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High Schoolers Soar at Aerospace Academy
Published Jun 02, 2008

At the Alamo Area Aerospace Academy, learning is hands-on.

Workforce development is a major issue for any industry, but aerospace companies in and around San Antonio have a steady supply of new talent thanks to the Alamo Area Aerospace Academy.

One of three programs – the other two serve the information technology and manufacturing sectors – that comprise the Alamo Academies, the two-year institution gives high school students an outstanding opportunity to get ahead in their field of choice. The academy works with area businesses, community colleges, public school systems and local governments to provide paid internships and other job-training opportunities to students, Graduates can earn between 27 and 31 college hours and a Level I Certificate of Completion, preparing them for work or further education after high school.

“Our industry partners have a need for a pipeline of entry-level skilled workers, and there’s no excess skilled labor in the workforce now,” says Gene Bowman, director of the Alamo Academies.
“We provide opportunities for young men and women to not only receive their high-school education, but also get those entry-level skill sets and see what’s out there in the business world.”

The eight-week, 40-hour paid internships are a big selling point for students, because they can earn while they learn a specific industry skill that they may or may not want to pursue after graduation. In fact, that ability to provide its students with choice during high school is one of the academy’s major pluses, Bowman says.

“When they come out, they have several options,” he says. “They may want to continue at a four-year college or at a two-year institution like Alamo Community College. If they go that route, they’re already halfway done if they have their certificate. And if they want to go straight to work, they’ve already got companies who greatly want to bring them on. And most of our industry partners provide some kind of tuition reimbursement, so they can work and go to school at the same time, if they so choose.”

Story by Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Photo courtesy of Alamo Area Aerospace Academy

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Magazine:
Business Images of the Alamo Area, 2008 Edition

Headline:
High Schoolers Soar at Aerospace Academy

Summary:
Workforce development is a major issue for any industry, but aerospace companies in and around San Antonio have a steady supply of new talent thanks to the Alamo Area Aerospace Academy.

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