Last Saturday, more than 176 middle and high school students from Federal Way Public Schools got a behind-the-scenes peek at the aviation industry at the Alaska Airlines Aviation Day, which was co-hosted by the Port of Seattle and Boeing.

The event provided students with hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning experiences related to the aviation industry.

Along with more than 1,800 students from other Puget Sound communities ranging from 13–18 years old, FWPS students connected with Boeing engineers, Port of Seattle police and firefighters, spoke with military fighter pilots, performed maintenance checks with mechanics and attended lectures regarding aviation careers. They also got to fly a plane in a 737 simulator, build and test gliders and more.

This experience supports persistence to graduation and access to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) experiences, part of goal five of the district strategic plan.

More than 39 percent of FWPS students who attended Alaska Aviation Day said the event inspired them to look at taking aviation courses. More than 30 percent of students said the event inspired them to attend a technical, two-year or four-year program in aviation after high school.

One student who attended the event said, “I liked being able to go into the different planes and meet different people from many different careers.”