Embraer Foundation donates $15,000 to Central Georgia Technical College to support aviation education
“There’s no shortage of passion and we want them to be exposed to that passion,” said Monica McCluney, Head of Embraer U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility and Embraer Foundation.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Over at Middle Georgia Regional Airport, the Embraer Foundation donated $15,000 to Central Georgia Technical College to be used for scholarships for students who are pursuing a career in aviation.
Embraer staff and past CGTC recipients encouraged others by sharing their experience and stories while also touring the Peyton Anderson Aviation Lab, which is part of the Central Georgia Aerospace Training and Sustainment Center at the airport and Embraer’s facility adjacent to it, in an effort to increase interest in the aviation industry.
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
Mike Pace, Dean of the Aerospace Trade and Industry Division for CGTC tells us about the college’s two year aviation maintenance technology program.
“It’s designed to take students from no knowledge, through learning about every aspect of aviation maintenance and it qualifies them for ultimately completing their FFA certifications as an airframe and powerplant certificated mechanic,” said Pace.
“Georgia is a very strong state in terms of the aerospace community and aerospace manufacturing sustainment and we want to continue to be a leader in Central Georgia,” said Pace. “So their support through the Embraer Foundation and direct support of our students and our program activities helps us to continue to grow that workforce in Middle Georgia and support the broader economic health of the aerospace industry in Georgia.”
Monica Newman McCluney, Head, Embraer U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility & Embraer Foundation & Mike Pace, Dean, Aerospace Trade & Industry Division Central Georgia Technical College (Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
Monica Newman McCluney, Head of Embraer U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility and Embraer Foundation says the company started an Education Partnership Program (EPP) in 2022.
“We looked strategically around the country at where our facilities were located and where our greatest workforce needs were and really wanted to start to develop a pipeline,” said McCluney. “So we identified a handful of schools and started a pilot program and Central Georgia Tech was one of those pilot programs.”
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
McCluney says Embraer and the Foundation work tirelessly to ensure young people are well informed about all the opportunities available in the aviation industry.
“I’m sure you heard all of the reports and data around the shortages, so we are trying to get ahead of that, but we really want to make sure that at a baseline they have the information so they can make a decision that’s going to possibly change the rest of their lives and we know that it has generational impact,” said McCluney
(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)
“There’s no shortage of passion and we want them to be exposed to that passion.”
According to CGTC, since the start of the partnership, the Embraer Foundation has donated over $35,000 to the school’s foundation in support of aviation.
