I became a teacher mainly because I never stop teaching in my daily personal life. I’m ALWAYS learning, I’m ALWAYS studying and I’m ALWAYS yearning to share everything I know with anyone willing to listen. That’s number one. Number two is as a student pilot, I long to give young people every opportunity for a future of success in the world of aviation, and the sooner they start, the farther they will go.

My most memorable teaching experience I’ve had was taking a group of students to the Women in Aviation Day event at the Oklahoma Air Nation Guard, 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a day of food and networking with the finest of Oklahoma’s aerospace industry leaders where we heard guest speakers such as Jim Bridenstine and Nicole Malachowski give encouraging talks to the young women aviators.

I would use this money for two things. The first thing is I would put it towards my own personal development as a professional educator because I believe that would have the most impact on the students that attend my aviation class. The second is I would purchase equipment and tools needed in the aviation classroom. Young people love hands on learning. Making the lessons fun and exciting is what makes the knowledge retainable.