CLARKSBURG - Harrison County Schools have teamed up with Pierpont Aviation Programs to introduce students to exciting career opportunities in aviation. This year, career presentations have been held for 11th and 12th graders across all six high schools, as well as 8th graders at all five middle schools in the county.
Dr. Brad Gilbert, Senior Professor and Director of Aviation Technology at Pierpont, along with his team, have been visiting schools to talk with students about the growing aviation industry and the job opportunities available right here in Harrison County.
On Friday, October 25, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., approximately 40 students from Mountaineer Middle School and South Harrison Middle School will visit the Pierpont Aviation Training facility at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center in Bridgeport. During this field trip, students will tour the facility, explore the hangar, and get an up-close look at the airplanes. They will also participate in a hands-on aviation activity. Additionally, they will see the surrounding area, which is home to companies like MHIRJ, Pratt & Whitney, Aurora Flight Sciences, Lockheed Martin, and more.
The goal of this partnership between Harrison County Schools, Pierpont Aviation, and local aviation companies is to introduce students to the career possibilities in the aviation industry. With many job openings still available, the hope is to inspire the next generation of workers and make them aware of the opportunities right in their own backyard. Through these presentations and field trips, students are given the chance to see firsthand the potential future careers that are available locally.