When the 2017-18 school year rolls around, seniors in Harrison County will have a pretty good option to get a head start not only on college, but on a career. That will be the case if things shake down as Thomas Stose, director of the Pierpont Community & Technical Colleges Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center in Bridgeport, believes they will for those that take advantage of what will be offered.

 

Stose told members of the Benedum Airport Authority – the governing body of the North Central West Virginia Airport – on Wednesday that beginning this year students in the county will be able to receive 12 hours of college credit in the Aviation Maintenance Technology program offered at his facility.

 

“I’ve already enrolled the first student in the program,” said Stose. “ … What we’re looking for are motivated individuals who are really serious about a career in aviation because this isn’t going to be high school. This is actually college-level classes that are under FAA regulations. They have to follow all the rules and regulations that a normal college student would have to abide by.”

 

The program would allow students interested to take two three-hour credit classes during the time period of the college semester during their time as a senior in high school. Unlike a typical three-hour credit class, these classes – that will meet at the aerospace center – meet eight hours a week.

 

“It’s a little more advance and attendance is mandatory,” said Stose.

 

Harrison County, said Stose has agreed to pay tuition in excess of $75 per semester. What that means is that the student that entrolls will pay Harrison County Schools $75 and the remaindder of the tuition per semester will be pay for by the school system, Stose said.

 

“The Harrison County Board of Education will pick up the rest of the tuition,” said Stose.

 

Stose said he’s also getting positive feedback from other surrounding counties. He’s met with Doddridge, Taylor and Marion counties and said Doddridge County right now appears ready to get on board in a bid way by covering the entire cost.

 

“The big payoff is that you can start a career if you complete this program and stay here. (The Harrison County BOE) shows by doing this that they’re committed in helping kids with careers and not just interested in getting the graduated and out of the building. This is a career pathway,” said Stose. “ … With our program (which they would enroll in after taking the initial hours in high school), they would graduate with an Associate Degree plus their FAA certification.”

 

Stose said the certificates earned are good for life. And as has been reported multiple times, aerospace companies at the NCWV Airport complex that are hiring.

 

“They’re not just hiring, but they’re hiring students as soon as they graduate,” said Stose about what is a two-year program.  

 

Questions regarding the program can be directed to the RCB location in Bridgeport or a high school counselor. The RCB phone number is 304-367-4800.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Tom Stose at a recent Airport Authority meeting, while workers are shown below taking part in the massive aerospace industry that is located in Bridgeport.