Kristyn Legier says she never really gave much thought to what goes on in airports until last summer. That’s when a local aviation initiative aimed at minority youth pulled back the curtain for the Baton Rouge Magnet High School senior.
Legier was one of a couple dozen high school students to attend the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Airport Business Diversity Conference in San Antonio with the Baton Rouge Youth Aviation Experience this past June. The annual summer event, held at a major city’s airport, showcases the multitude of jobs that make the aviation and aerospace industries run.
“I was surprised by how big airports actually are and how many people go through them every day,” Legier says.
The Baton Rouge teen hopes to attend Howard University, followed by law school and a career in international business. She says the conference gave her a better understanding of how airports impact the economy.
Exposing students to career opportunities in the aviation industry is what District 6 Councilman and Baton Rouge Airport Commissioner Cleve Dunn Jr. aimed to do when he founded the Baton Rouge Youth Aviation Experience in 2019. In addition to the AMAC conference, Dunn also takes students to occasional airport commission meetings.
“I grew up in the Banks/Scotlandville area, and I heard planes going overhead every day,” Dunn recalls. “But it wasn’t until I was on the airport commission that I started thinking about how many jobs it takes to run an airport. I didn’t want our current youth to deal with any barriers to the industry.”
Aviation jobs aren’t limited to pilot and flight attendant roles, Dunn says. The annual conference showcases positions like air traffic controllers, mechanics, airport administrators, retail operators and others. It also informs teens what is required to land such positions.
More than 100 students from 12 local high schools have participated in the program so far. Along with San Antonio this year, the Baton Rouge Youth Aviation Experience has participated in conferences based in Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. The organization raises money to pay for travel, food and lodging associated with the event. Along with the conference, they’re also able to explore the city and a few tourist attractions.
Full article: https://www.225batonrouge.com/our-city/a-baton-rouge-aviation-nonprofit-wants-to-help-local-youth-take-flight