The Lima City Schools’ MVP (Most Valuable Parent) program will soon introduce students and adults to the Tuskegee Airmen, current aviation opportunities and an afterschool aviation program available to middle school students.
Student and parent presentations including pilots, a living history performer and Buckeye Tigers program is planned for Thursday, Feb. 25.
A program for students at South Science and Technology Magnet School will begin at 1 p.m. It will include living history performer Anthony Gibbs, of the Ohio History Connection, presenting the story of Courage Under Fire, about the Tuskegee Airmen.
Also at the school Thursday will be several pilots, including John Mitchell, son of Original Tuskegee Airman Rufus C. Mitchell. The Tuskegee Airmen was a group of African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in World War II. Members of the group were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces.
A public program with these guests will begin at 5:30 p.m. at South. The presentation is part of this month’s MVP meeting. Designed for middle school parents, the meetings provide a great way for parents to meet other parents and to learn about the rewarding and exciting ways they can get involved in their children’s education. A free dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting following.
This month’s meeting is open to anyone in the community, not just middle school parents. Participants will hear from the pilots, including one female pilot, and get a better understanding of the Tuskegee Airmen and the group’s role in history. There will also be artifacts on display.
New student aviation program
The evening presentation will also allow parents to learn more about an afterschool youth aviation adventure camp being offered at South. Eric Haynesworth, of Columbus-based Buckeye Tigers, will talk about the program that introduces youth ages 11 to 14 to careers in aviation.
The program incorporates Ohio’s rich history of African American aviation while emphasizing academic and social skills needed to be successful in such careers.
Buckeye Tiger is offering the afterschool youth aviation adventure camp at South that will culminate with a May 21 trip to The Ohio State University. Students will go through various training exercises and work with a flight simulator while in Columbus.
The program, which will meet once a week at South beginning next month, is open to South students and children of MVP participants. Students must be in grades five through eight. Local members of the Ohio Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen will facilitate the afterschool program.
There are 30 spots available in the program. Parents can sign their children up for the aviation camp at the evening meeting. For more information about the camp or to sign up, contact Yvonne Jones at 419-996-3269 or yjones@limacityschools.org