District Five to host FHL scholarship event, highlight the state’s growing aerospace industry

CHAPIN – A Midlands group hoping to encourage top students to seek jobs in the aerospace and aviation sectors will host a scholarship event in partnership with Lexington-Richland School District Five this month.

FHL Leadership Group will hold its annual William & Lodie B. Griffin Scholarship Award Reception at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies on April 18. Organizers say the event is aimed at recognizing students who exhibit leadership and plan to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. Local college and high school senior students will be recognized, and District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner will be the speaker for the awards reception. Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased online at fhlleadershipgroup.org.

“The letters F-H-L stand for Faith, Hope and Love, and our organization is based on an abiding faith, the spirit of hope and the power of love we hope to instill in students who benefit from our group and scholarship program,” said Anthony Stovall, a veteran air traffic controller who serves as president and CEO of FHL. “Our motto is ‘Expect It!’…and we always anticipate the best, particularly for our youth.  We encourage members of the community to attend, find out more about the aviation and aerospace sectors and support our students who are making positive impacts in their communities.”

The aerospace and aviation sectors have rapidly expanded in South Carolina over the past decade and now represent a significant percent of the state’s gross product, a recent study by researchers at the University of South Carolina showed. The boon in aerospace jobs means more students should consider careers in the field, Stovall said.

“The FAA recently announced the need to hire a minimum of 10,000 air traffic controllers just to maintain the current manning rate, which is roughly about 92 percent. So absolutely there is a need there for that particular career field,” he said. “It takes good problem-solving and good leadership skills to do the job, all qualities that our students exhibit every day and can utilize in our state’s growing aerospace field.”

Visiting District Five aerospace students in spring, Stovall gave students a mini-lesson on air traffic control, urging students to consider a career that is both “fun and rewarding.”

“These are sustainable, high-wage jobs and the field is only expected to grow,” he said. “We want students to know the opportunities that are available, and that’s why we created FHL and the scholarship program…to let young men and women know that air traffic control, aerospace and other aviation jobs are out there and don’t require them to have eight years of college or even four years of college in some cases. We hope to partner with schools like The Center to create programs where students can transition virtually seamlessly from high school today into aviation jobs tomorrow.”

The Center for Advanced Technical Studies provides a standalone facility for District Five students to build technical skills, gain certifications and earn credits. Opened in August 2012 and attended by students from the district’s four high schools, The Center houses more than 15 technical programs and offers high-tech courses in a variety of areas from biomedical science and auto mechanics to alternative energy and graphic design.

At The Center, students can take courses in aviation, practice basic aerospace introductory skills and learn more about the sector. In-class flight simulations, problem-solving activities and hands-on lessons help students at the school pursue and narrow their interests in aerospace and aviation, school officials say.

District Five Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner said, “We are proud to host this event and highlight a growing career field. District Five’s mission is to prepare our students for success after graduation, and we hope aerospace and aviation are fields our students will consider when deciding the jobs they’ll pursue in the future.”