INNOVATION CENTER
I have postponed my newsletter until today as I was out last Thursday and Friday at the Four States Regional Technology Conference and off again on Sunday to the AOPA Symposium, please find stories on each below. I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving and the opportunity to share quality time with their families. I have a few exciting announcements to make after Thanksgiving Break, so be looking for those! Thanks for reading.
Pryor High School Student Nicholas Rowland Attends OETA Aviation Youth Influencer Meeting
Pryor High School student Nicholas Rowland was among a select group of Oklahoma students (high school and college) who was invited to participate as a panel member at the OETA Aviation Youth Influencer Meeting at the Oklahoma Science Museum on Friday, November 10th. The event was designed to bring together young people who are passionate about aviation and provide them with an opportunity to learn more about the industry and meet with professionals.
Rowland, who is a member of the Pryor High School Aviation Program shared his aviation experiences and spoke about his aspirations to pursue a career in the field. "It was an honor to be invited to participate in the OETA Aviation Youth Influencer Meeting," said Nicholas. "I learned a lot about the industry and met some amazing people. I'm really excited about the future of aviation and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it."
In addition to the panel discussion, the event also featured a variety of hands-on activities, including flight simulators and drone demonstrations. The students also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from a number of aviation organizations, including the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The OETA Aviation Youth Influencer Meeting is part of OETA's ongoing commitment to STEM education. The organization provides a variety of resources and programs to help young people develop an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Four State Regional Technology Conference
Mr. Scott and Mr. Day attended the Four States Regional Technology Conference at Pittsburg State University last Thursday and Friday. The conference was a great opportunity for each to learn about the latest technology trends and to network with other technology professionals in the region.
The conference featured a variety of workshops and presentations on a wide range of topics, including graphic design, artificial intelligence, robotics, and 3D printing. Mr. Day and Mr. Scott were particularly interested in the workshops on coding and robotics. They also had the opportunity to visit the conference's vendor hall, where they saw the latest technology products and services. "The Four States Regional Technology Conference was a great experience," said Mr. Scott. "I learned a lot of new things and I'm excited to share what I learned with our students and staff."
About the Four State Regional Technology Conference
The Four States Regional Technology Conference is an annual event that brings together technology educators from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The conference is designed to provide educators with the latest information and resources on technology education. This year's conference was held at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. The conference was attended by over 200 educators from the four states.
2023 AOPA You Can Fly Aviation STEM Symposium
Pryor High School and the state of Oklahoma was well-represented at the recent Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) High School Aviation STEM Symposium in Orlando, Florida. The Pryor Aviation staff attended the event, eager to learn more about the latest advancements in aviation education and bring back valuable insights to their students. On Monday, Dr. Jenny Peters spoke at the AOPA Symposium. Her topic was Drones in the Classroom. She outlined our program and gave a detailed list of drones that we use in our program as well as the items that every drone program should have. She did a outstanding job of going over the curriculum that we utilize and how she has meshed it with the AOPA You Can Fly Curriculum.
The symposium, held from November 12-14, provided a platform for educators and industry leaders to connect, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to promoting aviation STEM education. Pryor's representatives actively participated in workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions, gaining valuable knowledge and resources to enhance their school's aviation program.
"The AOPA Symposium was an invaluable experience for our team," remarked Dr. Jenny Peters, an AP physics, aviation, and engineering teacher at Pryor High School. "We were able to connect with like-minded educators from across the country and gain fresh perspectives on how to inspire and engage our students in the exciting field of aviation."
The symposium's theme, "You Can Fly: Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviators," resonated deeply with the Pryor staff. They were particularly impressed by the keynote address from Barrington Irving, a pilot, educator, and the 2012 National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Irving's inspiring story of circumnavigating the globe solo at the age of 23 ignited a passion for aviation among the attendees.
Paula Kedy, with the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics was a guest speaker Monday afternoon, "Paula's message of the importance of aviation and how it empowers our students was truly inspiring," shared Mr. Jim Bryant, an aviation teacher at Pryor High School.
Paula has been a driving force making Oklahoma the leader in the AOPA curriculum. Three years ago there were around 30 schools using the AOPA Curriculum. Lat year that number grew to over 50. Currently there are over 80 schools utilizing the FREE AOPA You Can Fly Curriculum in Oklahoma.
- Mon Nov 20-24: Thanksgiving Break
- Thu Nov 30: MAIP Cup Pitch Presentations
- Thu Dec 7: Fall Engineering Showcase
- Sat Dec 9: First Tech Robotics Event - MidAmerica Expo Center
- Dec 11-15: Finals Week
- Mon Dec 11: MAIP Cup Awards Dinner (6pm)
- Dec 18-Jan 3: Winter Break
2023-2024 School Year
- Innovation Center Newsletter - August 14, 2023 | 1.1
- Innovation Center Newsletter - August 21, 2023 | 1.2
- Innovation Center Newsletter - August 28, 2023 | 1.3
- Innovation Center Newsletter - September 5, 2023 | 1.4
- Innovation Center Newsletter - September 11, 2023 | 1.5
- Innovation Center Newsletter - September 18, 2023 | 1.6
- Innovation Center Newsletter - September 25, 2023 | 1.7