January 29, 2020
Page 11
Expanding Opportunities in Aviation
C ontinued from f ront
new executive director of the pro-
gram, located in the former the
Albina Youth Opportunity School
on North Mississippi Avenue.
The instruction young people get
about airplanes is geared to give
them opportunities for success in
the aviation field.
Cannell’s father is a good ex-
ample, she said. He came from
humble beginnings, but a ride in
an airplane changed his life and
sparked his interest in flying. He
learned to fly and was a pilot for
Northwest Airlines for 30 years.
Cannell wants more kids to
get exposure to flying as well.
“My hope is that kids find their
passion through aerospace,” she
said. “There are incredible op-
portunities in this field, and the
goal is to reach as many kids as
we can through our community
partners, encouraging kids to
learn what they can about avi-
ation and aerospace and to try
things out.”
Aviation is the art or science
of making and flying aircraft,
while aeronautics is the design,
construction, mathematics and
mechanics of aircraft and other
flying objects.
Both pursuits require a back-
ground in science, technology,
engineering and math, known as
STEM, Cannell said, subject ar-
eas that are taught with hands-on
opportunities at Airway Science
for Kids. Thanks to charitable
donations, the classes are free to
students.
ASK was founded in 1991
by Bob Strickland, a retired Air
Force auditor, Cannell said.
“He had a love and passion
for aviation and cared deeply
about kids of color,” she said.
“He knew a lot our young people
were falling through the cracks,
with gangs and other distraction,
and he wanted to make a positive
impact by sparking an interest in
STEM through aviation.”
You don’t have to be a pilot
to get a good job in aviation.
Other jobs in the field include
aerospace engineer, air traffic
controller, aircraft maintenance,
aviation management, aviation
safety, aviation transport, flight
instructors, civil and military
aviation, and even cabin crew.
At least 2,000 kids have been
through the ASK program over
the years, Cannell. Sixty percent
were kids of color, she said, and
at least 20 percent were girls.
“We don’t turn any young
person away and our focus is on
kids of color and girls,” she said.
STEM is the fastest growing
field in the state and it’s also
one of the most lucrative fields
for future careers, but there is a
disparity because of the relative-
ly small number of women and
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McKenzie Reid, 18, a senior at Lincoln High, said the Airway Science for Kids program is helping her
prepare for a career as an aerospace engineer.
people of color pursuing math ficient and useful, Cannell said. can have something the commu-
and science based vocations.
ASK acquired the build- nity is proud of,” she said.
So the goal is not necessar- ing, through a loan from a do-
“We’re hoping to have a com-
ily for the students to become nor, from the Northwest Health munity center where people can
pilots, although many do, Can- Foundation, which bought the gather and maybe put affordable
nell said, “Our hope and passion building when the Albina Youth housing on top,” she said. “And
is that they explore learning in school was going defunct, she we could have programs down-
STEM-related fields and go on said.
stairs where little black and
to have careers that are both
“They wanted to make sure it brown kids are learning how to
professional and lucrative for stayed in the community and the fly airplanes, how to build drones
them.”
property did not get redeveloped and really get excited about math
The mission at ASK is to not into high rises, and they deserve and science.”
only offer aviation and aeronau- a lot of credit.”
But it can’t happen without
tics training, but to convince
But a lot of work still needs to community support, she said.
local youth that it’s not outside be done and ASK is going to kick
“Our program has been going
their reach and they can do any- off a capital campaign soon to on for almost 30 years and we
thing they set their minds to.
remake the school into it a mod- want to continue for another 30
“As Bob Strickland used to ern educational facility and re- years,” she said. “But in order to
say, ‘Your attitude determines pay the loan. The building needs do so, it will take the communi-
your altitude,’” she said. “So to be thoroughly cleaned, old ty, the whole community, rally-
many young people are rein- furniture removed, classrooms ing behind us.”
forced that they can’t do certain renovated and much more.
Cannell grew up in north and
things. We attempt to decon-
Renovations will probably northeast Portland, she said, and
struct all of that and teach them take a couple of years, Cannell graduated from Benson High
that if you can learn to set a said, and she’s hoping to form School.
course for the Aurora Airport – partnerships with developers and
“What this is about, to me, is
whether it’s on a simulator or in foundations.
giving back to the community
a real airplane – if you can build
“We’re hoping to get the com- that has given me so much.”
a drone and fly a drone, if you munity excited because it’s right
A celebration of the work of
can build an airplane, then noth- on Mississippi, the heart of the ASK, “ASK Wings to Soar Cel-
ing can stop you from realizing black community,” she said. ebration,” will be held at OMSI,
your potential.”
“What better homage to those the Oregon Museum of Science
Learning to build drones and who came before us to making and Industry, at 6 p.m. on April 8
pilot them is a great job oppor- sure we have a permanent home for a reception and dinner with a
tunity, Cannell said, and the for our young people to get ex- program emceed by current and
biggest drone companies in the posed to STEM and CTE (career former students and followed by
U.S., Northwest UAV, is located and technical education) right a dance party.
in McMinnville.
there on Mississippi.”
To learn more about Airway
The ASK building, which
ASK is asking for in-kind sup- Science for Kids, and to register
the nonprofit has leased for two port from builders and develop- for the “Ask Wings to Soar Cel-
years and now owns, needs much ers in the short term and financial ebration,” go to the ASK website
work to make the space more ef- partners for the long term “so we at wp1.airwayscience.org.
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