Top Aviation Technology Students Get New Incentive to Strive

By Dina Doolen, Marketing, Communications and Strategic Outreach

Pima Aviation Technology student Jack Collins is the first drawing winner of a rolling toolbox, as part of a new initiative that will save recipients thousands of dollars on an essential piece of equipment. Jack is pursuing his Aviation Technology Associate of Applied Science degree.

“A quality toolbox is a necessity to aircraft technicians as they require and acquire a lot of tooling throughout their career,” says Aviation Program Director Jason Bowersock. “The toolboxes that we're awarding to the drawing winners are manufactured with both durability and capacity in mind, and can last the duration of their career if properly cared for and maintained.”

These types of toolboxes can cost more than $7,000, he says.

Promoting Academic Excellence

Students in each cohort are eligible for the drawing upon program completion if they have maintained a 3.0 GPA in all Aviation courses, have earned grades of C or better in all Aviation courses, have not withdrawn from any Aviation courses, and have completed their FAA Airframe certification. The recipient is chosen in a drawing, with other eligible students receiving $50 gift cards. The initiative, devised by Aviation Department Head Charlie Cook, is designed to drive academic excellence and increased FAA certification rates, and is covered by Pima Foundation’s Aviation Program Fund.

Also, during the recent drawing at Pima’s Aviation Technology Center, students Jimmy Basonga, Simeon King, Adrian Perez and Matthew Zaldivar were recognized for their outstanding achievements and each received a $50 gift card.

“This initiative would not be financially feasible without the Pima Foundation and the donors that the Foundation has secured to support programs collegewide.”

Pima already provides a full complement of basic hand tools to every one of its Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) program graduates.

“Winners of these drawings will have everything they need to make a smooth transition into industry free of the financial burdens that Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) graduates nationwide encounter when entering the workforce.” Bowersock says.