Students in Prairie’s new Aviation Career pathway took a major step toward their future today, visiting the Kirkwood Aviation program for an inspiring, hands-on experience.

The visit gave students a sneak peek at the environment and requirements of the college program they may soon enter. As part of their two-year high school pathway, which prepares them with the general requirements for Aviation Mechanics coursework, the students are already using the Choose Aerospace curriculum to build foundational skills.

Current Kirkwood students and staff guided the Prairie students through essential aviation mechanic tasks, including safety wiring, checking spark plugs, and fabricating a replacement fuel line.

“The purpose of the visit was to inspire our students in the setting they would be learning in,” said a Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Wheeler. One excited junior student agreed: “This was a great opportunity to learn more about the program and I am really excited for this opportunity.”

This trip successfully connected the high school classroom to the college career path, helping Prairie’s aspiring mechanics visualize their journey from high school graduation to the hangar.