Future of Flight program receives funding from NASA

July 20, 2011

The Future of Flight Foundation was awarded nearly $50 000 from NASA to cover four months of planning for a summer program.

That program is the nationally-recognized informal education program for students in middle school, Flights of Innovation.

Flights of Innovation is designed to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers and develop the "pipeline" for workforce for the aerospace industry.

Future of Flight also recently received $30 000 from The Boeing Company; $10 000 from the Center of Excellencor Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing; and $2,000 from Puget Sound Energy Foundation and gifts from many individuals for Flights of Innovation.

In addition to helping spur kids' interest in STEM, Flights of Innovation teaches the students many skills that improve academic achievement and are useful in later life such as: problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration and teamwork, job search, resume preparation, job interviewing, public speaking, and creating multi media presentations.

The program is aligned with state standards in alontent areas, notably science, math and technology, and also provides professional development for teachers.

The program, piloted in 2009-2010, was also funded by the city of Mukilteo, Taproot Foundation and Air France.

Students and teachers participating last year included classes from Voyager Middle School.

Teachers may register their classes on line at www.futureofflightfoundation.org or by contacting the Program Educator directly at [email protected]

The non-profit Future of Flight Foundation was founded in 2003. The foundation's mission is to educate, engage and immerse the community by highlighting aviation and creating experiences that cultivate curiosity, stimulate imagination, encourage creativity and experimentation, generate collaboration and explore solutions.

In addition to hosting the Flights of Innovation program, the foundation displays aviation-related exhibits in the gallery and operates one of the country's premier visitor attractions in the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour at 8415 Paine Field Blvd. in Mukilteo.