The fall 2025 SOAR into STEM session was the biggest class to date, with record turnout and an impressive 94% attendance during the five-week, hands-on STEM and aviation educational experience.
Each Saturday session brought students into the Wings of Hope hangar to learn about the basics of flight, mechanics, engineering, aviation navigation and communications, and uncrewed aerial vehicles (aka drones).
The session kicked off with students getting an up-close look at airplanes in the Wings of Hope hangar, with volunteer mentors by their side to answer questions about the planes and their role in our mission. Multiple guest speakers provided engaging presentations that sparked lively discussions about a number of aviation-related topics. After Juan Cajigas, MQ-25 Chief Engineer at Boeing, explained his work leading the design and testing of the MQ-25 uncrewed aerial refueling drone, students asked him many questions about how the autonomous drone refuels naval combat planes from aircraft carriers.
Hands-on activities included building gliders, practicing communicating with air traffic control during a simulated exercise that mirrors airport traffic patterns, installing an electrical system on a foam aircraft, and working with aircraft mechanics on some of the essential skills used in maintaining planes.
The program featured a dedicated maintenance day — extremely popular with students — which provided students practical experience installing and removing Cleco fasteners, adjusting control cable tension, gapping and testing spark plugs, applying safety wire, inspecting aircraft for defects and corrosion, and flying drones. Students also built catapults for launching Halloween-themed plastic bats.
The five-week session culminated with the students taking Young Eagle flights, courtesy of local EAA Chapter 1675, and an aviation career exploration fair.
To learn more about SOAR into STEM and the other educational experiences we offer students including field trips, internships, and speaker visits, visit wingsofhope.ngo or contact Lee Ann Nolte at LeeAnn.Nolte@wingsofhope.ngo.