Morristown Airport Invites Roxbury High School Students for Inaugural 'High School Aviation Day'
MORRISTOWN, NJ – On a day marked by the roar of aircraft engines and buzzing drones, Morristown Airport, operated by DM AIRPORTS, LTD., opened its hangar doors to Roxbury High School students for its inaugural "High School Aviation Day."
Engaging in a spectrum of activities, students received an in-depth exploration of potential aviation careers, witnessing first-hand demonstrations, viewing static displays of aircraft and airfield equipment, and interacting with industry experts.
Throughout the day, students across all grade levels from Roxbury High School were absorbed into the world of aviation within an airport hangar. Many students who attended the event have expressed a deep interest in aviation, either being part of the high school’s Aviation Club or enrolled in the school's dedicated aviation program.
The program, backed by a robust curriculum provided by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), is further enhanced by Roxbury High School through the integration of additional resources such as flight simulators and drones to enrich the learning experience.
[Last year, Roxbury High School had two AOPA scholarship recipients: Tyler Benedetto (junior), who passed his checkride in February, and Mike Gottfried (Aviation teacher and Aviation Club co-advisor), who will take his checkride next week. The scholarship went toward helping them earn their Private Pilot’s Licenses.]
Warren County Community College (WCCC), known for its comprehensive drone program, performed an engaging demonstration using some of the latest drone technology. In a compelling demonstration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) representatives also exhibited how a drug-sniffing police dog contributes to safety measures and demonstrated the conduct of aircraft sweeps.
“It was a great opportunity for our students to visit Morristown Airport and see some of what we’ve been learning in real life,” said Dr. Mike Gottfried, Roxbury High School Aviation teacher, and Aviation Club co-advisor, who played an instrumental role in coordinating the event along with Roxbury Schools Superintendent Loretta Radulic, Assistant Superintendent Charles Seipp, Supervisor Matt Mawn, and Aviation teacher Chris Blough.
"Having an opportunity to meet industry professionals and learn about what a career in aviation could be like was incredibly impactful for our students,” Dr. Gottfried added, expressing his gratitude to Darren Large and MMU for making the day educational and engaging.
With the aspiration to inspire students at an early age to consider an aviation career, Darren Large, Director of Operations & Facilities at MMU, worked closely with Roxbury High School to organize the event.
“Morristown Airport was thrilled to welcome so many students and staff members from Roxbury High School at our first-ever High School Aviation Day,” said Darren Large, Director of Operations & Facilities at MMU. “We met so many promising, bright students today, and we believe that the sky is the limit for our young people. MMU looks forward to hosting more events like this in the future.”
Hosted in Paramount Global's hangar, a range of vendors participated in the event to discuss potential career paths with the students. Participating entities included DM AIRPORTS, LTD., Signature Flight Support, Atlantic Aviation, Warren County Community College, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol New York Office, Delta Airport Consultants, and FAA Air Traffic Control.
About DM AIRPORTS, LTD.
DM AIRPORTS, LTD. operates Morristown Municipal Airport (KMMU) on behalf of the Town of Morristown. The airport, open to the public, is classified as a General Aviation Reliever Airport and is home to multiple corporate flight departments, flight training centers, private charter operators, a U.S. Customs & Border Protection Facility for international travel, and other aviation entities.