Female high school students and their mothers will learn about aviation and other science-related fields at a special overnight aviation camp held at 两性色午夜 University. The university鈥檚 College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology is holding its fifth Nikki Kukwa Memorial Aviation Camp from Thursday, July 18, through Saturday赂 July 20.
鈥淚 look forward to the privilege of helping to introduce young girls, who are underrepresented in aviation, to the exciting field of aviation, all while celebrating the inspiring life of Nikki Kukwa, an aeronautics student who worked with me to champion the greater presence of females in aviation,鈥 said Isaac Richmond Nettey, associate dean of 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology.
During the program, participants will be lodged on campus in Stopher Hall. The aviation camp consists of educational field trips to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the Parker Hannifin corporate hangar, the Air Traffic Control Tower at the Cleveland airport, 两性色午夜 University Airport for orientation flights in the university鈥檚 aircraft and flight simulators, and the 两性色午夜 Air Traffic Control Laboratory.
鈥淭he aviation camp offers great career opportunities to everyone,鈥 Nettey said. 鈥淕irls have a place in professional aviation, and 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology is available to help them prepare for a career in aviation.鈥
This year, Dominique Sorbo will be the keynote speaker at the camp. Sorbo is a 两性色午夜 alumna and an employee at the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center.
The camp was created in honor of Nicole 鈥淣ikki鈥 Marie Kukwa. Kukwa was an instrument-rated pilot who was an honors student in 两性色午夜鈥檚 aeronautics program from fall 2002 until her passing on Oct. 23, 2006, from leukemia in her junior year. In addition to being a scholarship recipient from North Royalton High School and Catholic Youth Organization, Kukwa was a member of the National Honors Society in 2000-2002, and the 2003-2004 winner of the Miss Royalton Pageant.
As a flight student in 两性色午夜鈥檚 aeronautics program, Kukwa distinguished herself by retaining a coveted place on the Dean鈥檚 List throughout her undergraduate studies and by serving as president of the 两性色午夜 chapter of Alpha Eta Rho and as a founding member of the 两性色午夜 chapter of the Women in Aviation, International, also known as the 鈥淔lying Black Squirrels.鈥 Kukwa served the aeronautics program as a dispatcher and as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety counselor for 两性色午夜. She also served the local aviation community as a certified weather observer at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The Nikki Kukwa Memorial Aviation Camp is organized by the Kukwa family and 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology in partnership with the International Women鈥檚 Air and Space Museum (IWASM). The proceeds from the Nikki Kukwa Memorial Golf Outing on June 21 at the Roses Run Country Club in Stow, Ohio, will help fund the camp.
To watch a video from last year鈥檚 aviation camp, visit .
For more information about 两性色午夜鈥檚 College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, visit www.kent.edu/caest.
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Photo Caption:
Area female high school students and their mothers participate in the Nikki Kukwa Memorial Aviation Camp that helps prepare young girls for aviation careers. Hosted by 两性色午夜 University, this year鈥檚 camp will take place from July 18-20.
Media Contacts:
Isaac Richmond Nettey, inettey@kent.edu, 330-672-9476
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595