July 9, 2024 - The Cradle of Aviation Museum, the Town of Islip, and Long Island MacArthur Airport celebrate the first anniversary of a successful partnership providing hands-on STEM and Aviation Education.
“Long Island MacArthur Airport is a valuable aviation resource, conveniently located in the Town of Islip. We are delighted to bring this unique partnership to our local young people, empowering them to explore new aviation and airport careers on-site,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
“Together, we opened horizons for over 300 students on Long Island, providing them with career awareness in science, technology, engineering, math, aviation, and more,” said Shelley LaRose-Arken, Commissioner of Aviation and Transportation for the Town of Islip. “We set out to motivate and empower Long Island youth, and this partnership did exactly that,” she added.
“This has been a very exciting year, and we are thrilled to partner with MacArthur Airport to provide students with real-world exposure to careers in aviation. We hope students walk away excited about the possibilities and the opportunities,” said Andy Parton, President of the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
The partnership formally kicked off on March 25, 2023, at Long Island MacArthur Airport, just before the 2023 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, where JROTC students and educators joined Cradle of Aviation officials, Town of Islip leadership, and Airport Management.
Since that time, schools from across Long Island have reached out to participate in the education program, including:
- Brentwood High School, Brentwood, NY
- Freeport High School, Freeport, NY
- Alfano Elementary, Central Islip NY
- Copiague High School, Copiague NY
- Longwood High School, Middle Island, NY
- Manetuck Elementary, West Islip, NY
- Brentwood Middle School, Brentwood, NY
- Islip Middle School STEM CLUB, Islip, NY
Each group participating in the initiative learns about the vast career opportunities at airports and in aviation, including airline pilots and crew, the Transportation Security Administration, airport operations, management, law enforcement, air traffic control, military, and more.
“Almost every school participating saw commercial aircraft and Fire-Rescue equipment close-up. Most were also inspired directly by these aviation experts, from policing the airport to the flight crew, who took the time to answer questions about training and their daily job responsibilities,” said Cradle of Aviation Museum Deputy Director Catherine Gonzalez.
In the year ahead, MacArthur Airport will introduce a pop-up aviation career exhibit at the Cradle of Aviation Museum and an updated career video in the museum’s Planetarium Dome Theater. The museum helps to preserve Long Island’s rich aerospace heritage and inspire future generations. The hands-on education at MacArthur Airport will commence again in Autumn as schools return to session.
“This collaboration between the partners brings important resources in Nassau and Suffolk counties together on behalf of our community,” LaRose-Arken added.
