Aeronautics Holds Its First-ever Graduation and BBQ

San Bernardino Valley College's Aeronautics graduates are ready to soar to new heights — but first, they celebrated together at the inaugural Aeronautics Graduation and BBQ on May 16. 

Nearly 40 students participated, along with their families and friends. The event was also an open house of lab and classroom facilities, and "seeing our hangar and interacting with our airplanes and staff gave all of our visitors a better understanding of what their graduate was busy doing at our college," Prof. Francisco Gonzalez said. 

The event was first planned as a way of distributing FAA grant-awarded toolboxes to graduates, and turned into a larger celebration of both the students and the Aeronautics program. "We have been working very close with Dr. Oxendine and her staff Girija Rahavan to get awarded a federal aviation workforce development grant for this purpose," Gonzalez said. "We saw this as a substantial barrier to entry into the industry for our students. What we did not anticipate was the overwhelming support from both students and staff, and how well our first-ever graduation ceremony was received."

Students form tight bonds in the Aeronautics department, spending "many hours, days, and even years working toward a common goal: finishing their program," Gonzalez said. They make lifelong friendships and in some cases have even met their future husband or wife in class. Events like the Aeronautics Graduation and BBQ take this even further, Gonzalez stated, building a "sense of belonging and camaraderie and community among staff and students." 

A total of 42 students completed the Aeronautics program and declared it as their major field of study for school enrollment and graduation purposes, "making this one of the biggest classes that our department has ever produced," Gonzalez said.