Former NASA Astronaut to Provide Keynote Address
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has announced it will for the first time host a Build A Plane Teachers’ Day, sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace, in conjunction with the annual “Careers in Business Aviation Day,” held each year at NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013), which takes place this year in Las Vegas, NV.
NBAA and Build A Plane, the non-profit aviation education organization, will present the Teachers’ Day program, sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace, on Oct. 24, the Convention’s third day.
Keynote speaker for the event is Bonnie Jeanne Dunbar, former NASA astronaut. She retired from NASA in September, 2005 and then served as president and CEO of The Museum of Flight until April 2010. Dr. Dunbar now leads the new University of Houston’s STEM Center (science, technology, engineering and math) and joined the faculty of the Cullen College of Engineering.
The new Teachers’ Day will introduce high school teachers and students, and college students, to a variety of aviation education programs and opportunities. During the day, full admission to NBAA2013 will be free to event attendees.
The “Careers in Business Aviation Day” held during NBAA2013 will feature three tracks:
• Build A Plane Teachers’ Day, sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace will introduce educators to a variety of programs that use aviation to aid teachers in the instruction of science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) subjects. Lunch will be provided for the teachers along with tours through the exhibit hall
• A general session about business aviation careers for high school students, followed by a scavenger hunt and guided tour through the exhibit hall and static display of aircraft, will be conducted by NBAA.
• A special session for college students, hosted by NBAA, which will include roundtable discussions with industry professionals on the many career paths available in business aviation.
“We are amazed by the many great opportunities to use aviation to engage and motivate kids to learn,” said Lyn Freeman, president of Build A Plane. “Today’s students respond to real-world applications, and aviation really captures their attention. And all teachers and students get a free badge to attend the NBAA Convention Exhibits and Static Display of Aircraft after the presentations.”
During Build A Plane Teachers’ Day, speakers will present materials from industry, government and aviation organizations to expose students to all aspects of aviation. For example, educational materials will be available from Honeywell, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Air and Space Museum, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the Experimental Aircraft Association, Fly to Learn, Aviation Explorers and more. A wide variety of free, take-home materials also will be available for all teachers.
“NBAA wants future workforce leaders to become engaged in the many career opportunities the aviation industry offers, which is why we sponsor events like this at our Conventions, and also provide hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in student-scholarship and professional-development funds,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are delighted to include this Build A Plane Teachers’ Day event as part of our Convention in Las Vegas this year.”
Attendees participating in Teachers’ Day can receive one graduate credit from Viterbo University. A special tuition rate for Teachers’ Day participants has been provided. For more information, please contact Build A Plane.
Teachers can register online to participate in the designated day by visiting www.nbaa.org/teachersday. Space is limited. For more information, contact Katrina Bradshaw at Build A Plane, at (804) 843-3321 or kbradshaw@buildaplane.org. Please join us!
About NBAA
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 9,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
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About Build A Plane
Build A Plane is an IRS-approved 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization working in formal partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration and many other organizations to promote aviation and aerospace education. In addition to educational programming like Teachers’ Day, Build A Plane solicits aircraft donations then re-gifts those aircraft to schools for STEM education in high schools, youth organizations and colleges. For more information about Build A Plane please visit www.buildaplane.org.
About Honeywell Hometown Solutions
Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, focuses on five areas: Family Safety & Security; Housing & Shelter; Science & Math Education, Humanitarian Relief and Habitat & Conservation. Together with leading public and nonprofit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please go to www.honeywell.com/hhs.
