March 2018
THE BEACON
Page 7A
Cincinnati State is Meeting the Demand for Aviation Graduates
A few of the engines students disassemble and reassem-
ble as a part of their education.
Ray Ellington, a former
graduate from the program
in 1985, is now the current
Lab Technician as well as
an adjunct teacher for over
fifteen years.
William Elfers, a Navy vet-
eran and current student,
working hard in the com-
puter lab.
Photos by Nicole Williams
Provost Robbin Hoopes
and Program Manager Jeff
Wright.
of this particular Harrison cam-
pus is all classes are taught on
site so you literally do not have
to leave the building when
completing the 110 credit
hours. The campus also offers
a high-end welding program.
Veterans are especially
welcomed as many possess
hands-on experience and may
be able to accelerate quickly
through the program. William
Elfers is a great example of
an extremely bright student
and a Navy veteran getting
ready to graduate this upcom-
ing August. Mr. Elfers retired
from the Navy in April 2016
where he went on to assist
with funerals at the Arlington
National Cemetery in Virgin-
ia. Mr. Elfers explains why he
decided on this particular pro-
gram: “I got a taste of aviation
in the navy and enjoyed it. I
also knew it translated into
the real world. The best part
of this particular program is
that I learned sheet metal,
woodworking, composite
structures and everything me-
chanical and electronic. I like
the diversity and I can leave
here without having obtained
just one specialty skill.”
On January 23, Cincinnati
State showcased the Harrison
Campus by giving the public
a tour of the facilities, includ-
ing the jet engine, avionics
and welding labs. Following
the tour, Mr. Wright spoke to
the Cincinnati State Board
of Trustees, touching on the
dynamics of the growing pro-
gram. Many leaders from the
Harrison Community were in
attendance and eager to learn
more about the campus.
It was during his speech
that Mr. Wright was presented
with a check for $860,000
from Scott A. Knabe estate
to lift scholarship availabil-
ity for the program. Scott
Knabe was a graduate of the
Cincinnati State Aviation
Program and a former student
of Mr. Wright’s. Mr. Knabe
had stayed in touch with the
school after his graduation,
often coming to talk and con-
nect with the newer students
coming through the program.
Mr. Knabe worked as a
professional pilot when his
plane went down and crashed
into the Nantucket Sound in
August of 2003. It was a hard
loss for the aviation commu-
nity but is an honor to receive
this grant to elevate the pro-
gram in his name.
Also in attendance was
Cincinnati State Provost,
Robbin Hoopes. Mr. Hoopes
spoke with confidence on the
way the Avionics program is
still emerging, while noting
the fact that all of the faculty
there have deep community
roots. “A community college
should always serve the com-
munity they are in. There has
to be an alignment of interest
with the community.” Today
many graduates of the pro-
gram do still live in Harrison.
One of those graduates is Matt
Brielmaier, who graduated
from the program in 2001 and
now works at Lunken Airport
with Executive Jet Manage-
ment. Mr. Brielmaier recom-
mends the program to anyone
considering it. “You can’t beat
all of t he hands-on learning.”
Students interested in
enrolling in Cincinnati State’s
Aviation Program can get
more information by call-
ing the Cincinnati State West
(Harrison) Campus at 513-
569-4970 or visit their web-
site at cincinnatistate.edu.
or night program. Graduates
Continued from page 1A
of the Aviation Maintenance
become an adjunct profes-
Program earn an Associate
sor for Cincinnati State while
of Applied Science degree
continuing to grow his career
and are prepared to take the
at Comair, GE, Airborne
Federal Aviation Administra-
Express, Lockheed Martin
tion (FAA) licensing tests for
and Kroger Aviation. He then
Airframe Mechanic and Power
decided to return and teach
Plant Mechanic. It is rare for
full time at Cincinnati State in a college to offer the existing
1997, bringing a magnitude
A&P Program which allows
of experience with him. The
new graduates to obtain federal
aviation community is a tight
certifications in both. Each
one and Mr. Wright is only
student then moves on to com-
the third program manager
plete 2 semesters of the co-op
since the program began. Mr.
curriculum. Mr. Wright points
Wright’s dedication towards
out one of the major bonuses
the program is obvious in
speaking to his co-workers
and staff.
Cincinnati State is one of
the few programs that offer
a co-op out of the 170 in the
country. “There is a job wait-
ing for you after graduation.
We literally have more co-op
jobs than graduates,” explains
Mr. Wright. Among the fac-
tors fueling the demand is the
local expansion of airfreight
carriers such as DHL and
Amazon Prime Air. This past
January, Amazon announced
the acquisition of 210 acres
of land in Northern Kentucky.
There is no doubt the drone
industry is quickly rising in
multiple industries, such as
insurance, construction and
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