September 30, 2004
SIUC hosting Aviation Career Day on Oct. 9
CARBONDALE, Ill. - - Southern Illinois University Carbondale will host high school and community college students from throughout Illinois and the St. Louis area during the annual fall SIUC Aviation Career Day on Saturday, Oct. 9.
More than 80 students will be in Carbondale to learn more about one of the nation's leading aviation programs. The first 50 students registered will receive introductory flights.
The students, along with their parents, teachers and chaperones, will tour the program's facilities at Southern Illinois Airport, and the main campus. Current SIUC aviation students will serve as tour guides and, along with instructors, be available to answer questions.
Interest in aviation careers remains high, said David A. NewMyer, chair of the aviation management and flight program.
"In spite of 9-11, there is still a lot of interest in aviation. There is still a romantic connection kids looking up in the sky and seeing the same skies aviators saw years ago," he added.
Another important consideration is that aviation offers career options other than flying or working on planes. NewMyer pointed out there are more than 2.2 million jobs in aviation and that 9 percent of the nation's gross domestic product has something to do with aviation. Other aviation-related fields include aerospace engineers, airport planners, airport managers, marketing, and product support for aviation manufacturers.
The itinerary for the day is:
- 8-9:15 a.m. Students, parents and chaperones arrive on their own at the Southern Illinois Airport main terminal.
- 9:45 a.m. After a group photo on the ramp, tours of SIUC's aviation facilities and introductory flights in SIUC aircraft.
- 11:15 a.m.-noon Lunch.
- Noon Depart from the main terminal via bus to SIUC main campus.
- 12:30-1:30 p.m. Presentations on aviation career tracks and opportunities, and presentation on SIUC's aviation program, Lawson Hall, Room 171.
- 1:30-2:45 p.m. Tour of SIUC campus.
- 3 p.m. Return to Southern Illinois Airport.
Providing a high quality undergraduate education is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.
Students interested in attending the career day should see their school counselor immediately for an application, or for more information, contact David A. NewMyer or Lori Robertson at 618/453-8898.