NCASE & NASAO Co-Host
Aerospace Education Awards at
Capitol Visitor Center
The National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) announced that it has selected Dr. Jeff Montgomery for the 2017 Dr. Mervin K. Strickler Award for Aerospace Education Leadership and Mr. Larry Rivers as the 2017 Inductee to the Crown Circle Award.
The Award Ceremony, co-hosted by the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), will be held on May 24th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Capitol Visitor’s Center, HVC-201A&B, East Capitol St, NE and 1st, NE Washington D.C. For more information or reservations to attend, contact Awards co-chair: Shelia Bauer, sbbuckaroo@gmail.com.
In 1995, NCASE established the Dr. Mervin K. Strickler Jr. Award to honor Dr. Strickler and recognize individuals or organizations sharing his personal commitment and lifelong contributions to aerospace education. During his lifetime Dr. Strickler promoted aerospace education for more than 55 years and he is considered the “father” of aerospace education.
The Crown Circle for Aerospace Education Leadership Award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to aerospace education in either a local, regional, or national role. Recipients receiving this award are inducted into the Crown Circle of their peers and colleagues who have been similarly honored since 1969.
Dr. Montgomery and Mr. Rivers are representative of the best in aerospace education innovation and leadership, joining aviation pioneers such as Chuck Yeager and the late Scott Crossfield, nationally recognized educators from classroom teachers to school administrators, college professors, and leaders in industry and government. Each has made an indelible legacy.
 As Deputy Director Aerospace Education, Dr. Montgomery has been a team member and now leader of the Aerospace Education division at the Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters in Montgomery, AL, where he has worked for the last 22 years.
Dr. Montgomery (shown at left) retired from the United States Air Force; his areas of specialty being meteorology, education and training. After retirement from the Air Force, Jeff worked in the development office and was on faculty for an area university. All of his former career experience has benefited him in his work with Aerospace Education for CAP for the last 22 years.
Jeff is a dedicated advocate for aerospace and STEM education. His work in this area has become the touchstone for educators and associated organizations nationwide. He was the lead author of CAP’s comprehensive, 675-page, full-color aerospace textbook, Aerospace, the Journey of Flight; now in its 3rd edition. This textbook is used in high schools and colleges nationwide. In addition to this textbook, which is used in the upper level of CAP’s cadet program, Jeff took the lead in revising the 6-module Aerospace Dimensions program used for the beginning level of CAP’s cadet program and in middle schools across the country.
John A. Salvador, HQ CAP Chief Operating Officer shared, “Dr. Jeff Montgomery has played an important leadership role in Civil Air Patrol’s outstanding aerospace education program for 22 years. He continues to lead CAP’s aerospace education team to attain new heights, most recently with CAP’s highly successful STEM kit program which is causing greater than 75 percent of students to become more interested in seeking STEM careers. With over 40 excellent curricula products for grades K-12, many developed by Jeff, and many other exceptional programs, Jeff and his team reach over 200,000 youth every year.”
 Mr. Larry Rivers (shown at right), Crown Circle Inductee, has been the director for Talkeetna Alaska Build A Plane (TBAP) for the past 7 years. His position began when Larry was introduced to Build A Plane founder Lyn Freeman and Rebecca Fischer Cozad, an Alaska Airline pilot who wanted to give something back to youth. Shortly after these introductions a destroyed Piper Cherokee Six aircraft was donated to the program. Larry worked tirelessly to find sponsors and bring in resources to help the youth master the skills needed to plan for and complete the restoration of an aircraft.
During winter school holiday in 2013 Larry arranged for a week-long welding certification class. In addition, professors from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, were brought in to teach electronics and wiring. Local airframe and power plant mechanics taught students how to rivet. Larry insists that a youngster must be able to rivet 100 good rivets before they ever touch the aircraft. He also insists that no adults work on the plane. The actual work is all done by students. With a population of fewer than 800 people, Talkeetna residents came together in force to offer assistance to this fledgling project.
TBAP is an all-volunteer organization providing a cost free program for students through the sale of restored aircraft. Larry attends regional and national airshows introducing the program to industry leaders for program growth. All donations go directly toward aircraft restoration.
Lyn Freeman, President of Build A Plane, said “This is an unbelievable honor to have Build A Plane uttered in the same breath with names associated with the Crown Circle Award and NCASE!”
Through their Strickler and Crown Circle Awards NCASE is proud to celebrate Dr. Montgomery and Mr. Rivers’ vision, leadership, and significant accomplishments in promoting aviation and space education.
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2017 International Aviation Art Contest Transitions from State to National Competition
Contestant artwork from North Carolina is displayed in the Aviation Division's hangar.
Now that competition in the states has been wrapped up for this year’s International Aviation Art Contest, the focus has shifted to the national competition. Thirty states participated in this year’s contest with nearly 3,000 pieces of artwork entered. Artwork receiving recognition on the state level has been mailed to the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) office in Virginia for the national competition which will be held in early March.
“With all of the state competitions complete, we’re looking forward to hosting the national contest,” said Kim Stevens, NASAO Director of Communications and Operations. “Each year we receive some outstanding artwork from some very talented young artists, and this year is no exception.”
Young artists competed in three age categories with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category moving on to the national competition. Once the results of the national competition is announced, those entries will be entered into the international competition taking place at FAI headquarters in Switzerland later this Spring.
The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) announced tremendous growth this year with their entries increasing by nearly 1000% with a soaring 1112 entries from 73 schools statewide. The agency attributes their success to a new aviation art contest calendar mailed to over 2,000 Oklahoma schools. OAC winners will be recognized in a ceremony at the State Capitol March 23rd.
Here are some of the winners from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC):
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Junior Division (ages 6 to 9), third place winner:
Irelyn Scott from El Reno, a student at Lincoln Learning Center.
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Intermediate Division (ages 10-13), second place winner:
Uyen Nguyen from Dove Science Academy in Oklahoma City.
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Senior Division (ages 14-17), second place winner:
Kirsten Carpenter, a student at Leedy High School.
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 AIA Provides Complimentary Exhibit Space
Each year the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) provides complimentary exhibit space to universities, education organizations, government agencies, aerospace-focused groups, and AIA member companies at the National Finals of the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC). TARC is the aerospace industry's signature STEM competition for middle school and high school students and the world's largest model rocket contest. Exhibiting at the Final Fly-off is an excellent opportunity to reach 600-800 of the nation’s most talented and motivated STEM students.
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 13 at Great Meadow in The Plains, VA (approximately 45 miles west of Washington, D.C.). The exhibit area will be open from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Thanks to our corporate sponsors, we will be able to offer tents, tables, and chairs free of charge. Please provide your own table covering and extension cords (if needed). Lunch will be provided. Slides are attached with more information.
If you are interested in exhibiting, please fill out the Exhibitor Form no later than Friday, April 21.
For more information on the TARC program, please visit: www.rocketcontest.org or watch this video.
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