PACIFIC NORTHWEST AEROSPACE ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT
This spells good news for the airlines and consequently , the aerospace supply chain , creating glimmers of hope that business will pick back up and rejuvenate this previously thriving sector and the economic foundation to the region . However , all this good news does create a gap that we should all be thinking about . How do we develop the future workforce that will be needed to support aerospace manufacturing in the Pacific Northwest ? Although short-term strategies will need to be developed to help manage our imminent need , Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance ( PNAA ) has partnered with numerous local aerospace companies to contribute to addressing this long-term concern .
In 2007 , PNAA ’ s board of directors began discussing the idea of creating an aerospace scholarship program . Community and technical colleges were eager to connect with the aerospace manufacturing community . This was timely , as local aerospace manufacturers needed skilled workers . As the idea continued to be developed over the next two years , the PNAA board of directors built a framework around the program . Karl Fagan , one of PNAA ’ s board members , was instrumental in moving this program forward and genuinely cared about people and had a vision for developing the aerospace workforce pipeline . In 2009 , PNAA launched the scholarship program and provided $ 1,000 to two different colleges . The next year , five community colleges and eleven scholarships were awarded . When Karl passed away unexpectedly in 2011 , the Karl Fagan Memorial Scholarship was created , becoming the largest individual scholarship that is now given to a student each year . The local aerospace small and medium enterprise ( SME ) companies provided strong support and became the backbone of this effort , which provided positive momentum for the years to come .
Now , 12 years later , through the contributions provided to PNAA through the aerospace industry , we have donated over $ 312,000 to over 160 students , who have attended a dozen different colleges . We are pleased that our scholarship contributions have begun early this year with a donation from Sekisui Aerospace , kicking off what we expect to be a long list of contributors this year . Our partners in this endeavor share our belief that this is key to helping develop the local workforce , as many of these students will go on to thrive in aerospace companies here locally in the Pacific Northwest . These efforts also become reality through countless hours of effort from volunteers . People , like Larry Sowa , who have consistently contributed time year after year are the engine that pulls together the pieces to make this happen .
AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE NO . 22 57