Thanks to a generous donation from Chevron Phillips Chemical for $10,200 to the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation, Bartlesville Public Schools’ growing aviation program will receive a much-needed upgrade: classroom renovations and additional curriculum materials.
The aviation and aerospace industry is the second largest in the state and demands a highly technical workforce. In 2022, Bartlesville Public Schools (“BPS”) implemented an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association “You Can Fly” curriculum to develop aviation-related skills. Over the past two years, student enrollment has doubled. In the next few years, BPS administrators expect to have 200 students consistently enrolled in the program.
Through the aviation curriculum, students learn technical, engineering, and mechanical skills. The courses not only prepare students for careers in aviation, but also give them practical mechanical skills essential for any hands-on job or career in a technical field. Upon graduation, students will be able to fill a broad spectrum of workforce needs in Bartlesville and beyond.
The funds from Chevron Phillips Chemical will be used initially to upgrade two classroom spaces, originally built in 1939 and one which served as a choir room, complete with tiered seating. The renovation of these classrooms will create a more functional and cohesive layout, open the wall between the two classrooms and allow the aviation teacher, Ashlee Hightower, to install more flight simulators for her students.
BPS and the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation are grateful for the support from Chevron Phillips. These funds will allow the aviation program to meet the growing student and workforce demand for the technical skills developed through the program.
Community members are encouraged to contact Blair Ellis, the executive director of the Bartlesville Public Schools Foundation, for more information on how they can support this program. She can be reached at ellisb@bps-ok.org and (918) 336-8600 ext. 3523. Supporters can also donate through the Foundation’s website: bpsfoundation.org.