Flight forward
The Flight Forward Program shows how SchermCo’s strengths in strategy, partnership development, and day-to-day implementation translate directly into workforce development outcomes. Developed with the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, the program connected students from West Charlotte High School, particularly those from historically under-resourced backgrounds, to careers in aviation and related industries through a year-long exposure and readiness experience.
Rather than a one-time field trip, Flight Forward combined hands-on museum learning, industry site visits, mentorship, and career coaching to help students understand real pathways into high-demand fields. SchermCo designed and launched the pilot program, secured the school partnership, guided recruitment, and coordinated program operations and employer engagement. Early results point to strong student interest and momentum, including a new scholarship supporting a graduating senior’s transition into a university aviation program. Check out the full case study below:
overview
Although SchermCo is often known for our work in education, family empowerment, and social impact, many partners don’t immediately realize how those same skills translate into workforce development. The Flight Forward Program is a great example of how SchermCo leveraged strategic implementation, partnership development, and program management to connect young people to emerging industries.
The Flight Forward Program was developed in partnership with the Sullenberger Aviation Museum (SAM) to connect Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) students, particularly those from historically under-resourced backgrounds, to careers in aviation and adjacent industries. The program was intentionally designed to bring students from the surrounding community into a “world-class” museum located in their own neighborhood and transform it into an accessible career exploration and workforce pipeline.
Program snapshot
Program Timeline: October 24, 2024 – May 25, 2025
School Partner: West Charlotte High School
Target Population: College-ready juniors and seniors at West Charlotte High School
Applications Received: 25
Students Accepted: 8
The Flight Forward Program originated as a strategic recommendation within SchermCo’s planning work with the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. As the museum prepared to open its new facility, leadership wanted to ensure that it was not only a destination for visitors but also a community-centered workforce development asset.
A key strategy identified by SchermCo was the intentional engagement of CMS students, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who often live near major institutions but lack access to the opportunities inside them. Aviation, with its mix of trade careers, technical pathways, and college-aligned roles, presented a powerful opportunity for early exposure and long-term economic mobility.
how it started
Turning strategy into reality required strong local partnerships. SchermCo worked alongside SAM to identify the right school partner and landed on West Charlotte High School, a school with deep community roots and strong career-focused programming.
A critical component of the program’s success was the partnership with Patrice McClain, West Charlotte’s Career Development Coordinator. With her deep knowledge of students and existing career pathways, she served as a trusted liaison between the school, students, and program partners.
Together, SchermCo, the Sullenberger Aviation Museum’s Education Department staff, and McClain:
Identified students already engaged in Career & Technical Certificates (CTC), Reserves Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and other career-aligned programs
Distributed applications directly to students most likely to benefit
Ensured the program reached students who might not otherwise self-select into aviation pathways
This targeted recruitment approach resulted in 25 applications for the inaugural cohort, from which 8 students were selected to participate.
building the partnership
The Flight Forward Program was designed as a year-long career exposure and workforce readiness experience, rather than a one-off field trip or short-term intervention.
Key program components included:
Quarterly field trips to the Sullenberger Aviation Museum and aviation industry partners
Exposure to aviation maintenance, piloting, drone technology, and air cargo operations
Opportunities to explore both trade skills and college pathways
Networking with aviation professionals and potential employers
Preparation for summer internships and future work-based learning opportunities
Students also received ongoing mentorship and soft skills coaching from SAM staff, helping them better understand career expectations, workplace norms, and next steps after high school.
Program Design & Experience
SchermCo was contracted by the Sullenberger Aviation Museum to design, launch, and support the operational execution of the Flight Forward Program.
SchermCo’s responsibilities included:
Translated strategic plan recommendations into a tangible, pilot-ready program
Identified and secured the CMS school partnership
Supported recruitment strategy and application design
Coordinated communication between the museum, school, and students
Advised on program structure, sustainability, and workforce alignment
Lead outreach to the workforce and industry partners to build a robust career exposure and internship pipeline
By managing both the strategy and the on-the-ground logistics, SchermCo ensured that the program remained mission-aligned while still being feasible for a first-year launch.
Schermco’s Role
SchermCo worked alongside the Sullenberger Aviation Museum to engage a broad network of aviation and workforce development partners, with the goal of creating a continuum of opportunities ranging from career awareness to internships and employment.
Partners were engaged to support the program through a variety of formats, depending on partner capacity and program timing. Some of these supports included:
Presentations
Site visits
Mentorship
Soft skills training
Internship opportunities
working & industry engagement
Key partners included:
Fifth Third Bank
American Airlines
Piedmont Airlines
Rock Hill Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
UNC Charlotte Engineering Department
Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM)
Zipline
S&ME, Inc.
Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP)
Goodwill Industries
As part of the program’s emphasis on hands-on exposure, students participated in a Discovery Flight experience at Rock Hill Airport, coordinated through the Young Eagles program.
Students met a pilot at the Rock Hill Airport and each participated in an approximately 20-minute flight, experiencing aviation firsthand in a small aircraft. For many students, this marked their first time ever being on an airplane, making the experience personally transformative. In addition to flying, students had the opportunity to engage directly with other pilots, many of whom are certified flight instructors. For interested students, pilots also allowed them to participate in basic flight controls during the experience.
As part of this experience, students were registered and certified as Young Eagles members at no cost, providing them with ongoing access to aviation resources and further learning opportunities beyond the program.
This experience served as a defining moment for many students, transforming aviation from an abstract concept into a tangible and attainable career path.
Signature Experiential
Learning Opportunity
While the Flight Forward Program is still new, indicators suggest strong student engagement and a growing interest in aviation and related careers, aligning with the program’s long-term goal of increasing access to aviation and aviation adjacent industries.
One early outcome of the program was the launch of a Flight Forward student scholarship, designed to support seniors as they transitioned into postsecondary education. At the conclusion of the program, eligible senior participants were invited to apply for a $1,000 scholarship, funded by a long-standing volunteer of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum.
The scholarship awarded through the Flight Forward Program supported Brock Jenkins, a graduating senior who continued his academic journey by enrolling in Auburn University’s Professional Flight Program. During his time in the program, Brock actively engaged in each experience, from industry exposure opportunities to participating in his first Discovery Flight, where he experienced flying in a private aircraft for the first time.
Brock is now pursuing a degree in aviation with the long-term goal of becoming a professional airline pilot. Reflecting on his experience, he shared that the opportunity to fly in a small aircraft and gain firsthand exposure to the aviation industry played a meaningful role in solidifying his career aspirations, noting that the Flight Forward Program helped confirm his decision to pursue aviation as a profession.
According to Brock, “Getting the opportunity to strap into an aircraft and experience private aviation firsthand was incredible…The Flight Forward Program helped me in my decision to become a professional airline pilot.”
Most importantly, the Flight Forward Program demonstrates how cultural institutions like museums can serve as workforce development hubs, particularly when paired with intentional school partnerships, strong program management, and employer engagement.
SchermCo is proud to have helped bring the Flight Forward Program from concept to implementation and believes this model has strong potential to be replicated across other industries, schools, and cultural institutions, creating equitable access to career pathways for students who might otherwise be overlooked.
Want to learn more about how we can help? Send us a note at info@scherm.co
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