Beginning in the fall semester of 2019, students can get on the path to completing a four year program. Students can earn up to 18 college credit hours by successfully completing the program, which is funded by College Credit Plus.
Ohio’s College Credit Plus allows students to earn high school and college credit at the same time.
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“If there’s a way to put more kids into this budding industry that we know is just going to expand over the next 10 years, now is the time to get them,” said Emmanuel course instructor, Col. Bernie Willis.
Willis is a Kentucky Colonel and an Air Force Reserve member with 27 years of aviation experience as a Command Pilot. He is also a past adjunct lecturer at the National Unmanned Aerial Systems Training and Certification Center at Sinclair Community College in Dayton.
In addition to the opportunity for college credit in the new program, students will also get opportunities for certifications that could land them jobs.
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In the introductory course, students are immersed in hands-on activities like using virtual reality goggles to fly drones through an obstacle course designed by them. The person wearing the goggles can see what the drone sees and flies it according to verbal directions given by another student.
“I’ve seen those kids do things that some of my college students have not been able to do yet,” Willis said.
Willis said he’s excited to see the program balloon from this point on.
"This is the start of something great for ECA, Springfield, and the state of Ohio.Where better but in the birthplace of aviation," Willis said.
The program is made possible through partnerships with the Ohio Department of Education, the Turner Foundation and Kettering Health Network.
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