Calhoun Students
Victoria, TX — Over 450 girls and women of all ages took to the skies the week of March 3rd – 9th with the pilots of Calhoun Air Center. This marks the fourth year the air center has taken part in Women of Aviation Worldwide (WOAW) Week. WOAW aims to foster diversity in aviation by celebrating history, raising awareness, and sparking vocations among the female population.
Women represent only 6% of the pilot population, a number that has remained the same for nearly a century. Calhoun Air Center aims to change that statistic.
“This is truly an international event that is held for one week that has globally grown to thirty-six countries on four continents; an opportunity to impact females on a very large scale,” said helicopter pilot and Calhoun Air Center owner, Dianna Stanger. “Our team at Calhoun Air Center have been able to influence local girls and women from our small rural area on a level that few metropolitan areas are able to compete with. Each year it makes us very proud to be associated with the volunteers and friends who have helped to make new friends that may be the future of aviation.”
This year, the air center expanded their efforts to nearby schools and airports. Students from Palacios Middle School, Palacios Jr. High, Bloomington Jr. High, Travis Middle School, Calhoun High School and the Air Force TX-956 JROTC joined Calhoun Air Center to celebrate WOAW and take their first flight. The week-long effort was well worth it.
“My original goals for participating in WOAW were to spark a love for aviation and to introduce non-traditional career opportunities for our students,” said the Bloomington Junior High Principal, James Pieper. “In reality, what happened was so much more! The girls that got out of the aircraft were literally transformed into more confident individuals that are ready to take charge of their future. Thank you Dianna Stanger and Calhoun Air Center for introducing a world of opportunities.”
For more events the airport hosts throughout the year please visit www.calhouaircenter.com.
-Jasmine Gordon
Palacios Students
