News

Reservists help make aviation dreams come true

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SEATTLE --  Community leaders and Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, participated in a panel discussion and mentor session Feb. 6 as part of the Michael P. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, at Seattle's Museum of Flight.

The aerospace scholarship program, honoring fallen Columbia Space Shuttle astronaut and Spokane Wash. native, Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson, is sponsored by a private-organization headed by Maj. Gen. Harold "Mitch" Mitchell, who in his official capacity is the Deputy Inspector General of the Air Force, Washington D.C.

Helping with the outreach program in their spare time are Lt. Col. Ronald Limes, a chief pilot with the 97th Airlift Squadron and Lt. Col. Kimberly Scott, a flight commander with the 728th Airlift Squadron, both Reservists from JBLM McChord Field. The outreach program provides students with an unique opportunity to learn about the aviation industry while encouraging youths to reach for their dreams.

Students spent the day learning about flight dynamics, navigation, and aircraft design with hands-on help from their mentors and other aviation experts.

"We're hoping that children here today see Anderson as an inspiration because it's important that we invest in them and to continue to educate the community," said General Mitchell. "Hopefully exposure to these programs will light a fire and inspire the children to get into sciences in school so that they could be astronauts also."

"What we're trying to do is keep this legacy alive," said Colonel Limes.

The thrust of the scholarship is to inspire kids to do more, with Michael Anderson's story as a backdrop, said Colonel Limes.

The support of the community and leaders like General Mitchell makes it possible to bring kids in who may not have access to the technology, said Colonel Limes.

One of the ways Michael Anderson's legacy lives on is through programs like this with the help of volunteers from the 446th Airlift Wing, said Colonel Scott.

"It's amazing that we are able to allow the kids to have hands-on aviation experience, as well as hearing about the personal experiences of panel members," said Colonel Scott. "They can learn about the field of aerospace and see people who are actually doing it; people who serve their nation as well as serve their local community."