GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Delta Air Lines Foundation and West Michigan Aviation Academy recently celebrated the Foundation’s $150,000 grant to the school for the purchase of a Cessna 172 to train future pilots.
Delta Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Gil West, addressing ceremony attendees including students, elected officials, business leaders, Delta employees and Foundation board members, said, “The Delta Air Lines Foundation is pleased to make this grant to WMAA and it is our hope that the students will follow their passion of aviation and study hard so that one day they will be Delta’s future employees and customers.”
Added Andrea Newman, Senior Vice President - Government Affairs: “Michigan is very important to Delta, and we are proud of our history of partnership and economic development in the state. Delta has provided more than 10,000 jobs in Michigan. As we continue to support this great state, we are thankful to build relationships with organizations like WMAA, who are as passionate about the aviation industry as we are.”
West Michigan Aviation Academy Founder and Board President Dick DeVos, WMAA CEO Patrick Cwayna and WMAA student Jaxyn Ryks accepted the grant on behalf of the school at the event Oct. 1.
After the ceremony, more than 50 students participated in a panel discussion with West; Newman; John Fechushak, Vice President-Detroit Airport Operations; and Delta Captains John O’Neil and Jim Breaugh. The Delta leaders stressed the importance of hard work, perseverance and good grades.
Delta‘s support of West Michigan Aviation Academy aligns with the airline’s goal of developing future leaders and investing in the community, and the Foundation’s pillar of supporting education.
West Michigan Aviation Academy is a tuition-free public charter high school founded by Dick DeVos that provides a rigorous educational program with an aviation focus, preparing students for a career in the aviation field. The school opened in 2010 and is located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. WMAA employs 33 teachers who are educating more than 500 students in grades 9 through 12.
- Elizabeth Caminiti
大急流城，密歇根——达美航空基金会和西密歇根航空学院近日为基金会给予学校150000美元资助而庆祝，这笔资助将用来为训练学生，使之将来成为塞纳斯172航班的飞行员。
达美执行副总裁兼首席运营官吉尔·韦斯特为这次仪式做演讲，参加仪式的人员包括学生，当选官员，商业领袖，达美员工以及基金董事会成员。他在会上说道：“达美航空基金会非常高兴能够资助西密歇根航空学院，并且希望学生能够伴随着自己对航空的热爱努力学习，将来有一天成为达美的员工和客户。”
高级副总裁——政府事务员安德鲁·纽曼补充道：“密歇根之于达美是很重要的，我们对于历史上的伙伴关系以及在这个州有经济发展甚感荣幸。达美已经在密歇根为人们提供了10000多分工作。当我们继续支持这个伟大的州，我们非常感激能够与像西密歇根航空学院这些和我们一样对航空事业无比热情的机构建立联系。”
西密歇根航空学院创始人兼董事会主席迪克·德沃斯，首席执行官帕特里克·克瓦纳和学生杰克斯·瑞克斯在十月1号代表学校接受了这份资助。
达美航空对西密歇根航空学院的支持与公司培养未来领导人以及在社区的投资这一目标相一致，基金会的核心就是支持教育事业。
西密歇根航空学院是一所免费的公立特许高中，由迪克·德沃斯成立，以航空学为目标提供严格的教育项目，为学生未来进入航空事业做准备。学校是在2010年建立，位于杰拉尔德·R·福特国际机场的场地上。西密歇根航空学院聘请了33位来时，教500多个9-12年纪的学生。
——伊丽莎白·卡密尼提