Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics’ Commission Approves $2 Million Investment in Aerospace Education
Holly Blunk, Deer Creek High School aviation instructor, presented the school's aviation program during the August 12, 2026 Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission meeting.
By Laura Rudicel
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) Commission today approved a $2 million investment in aerospace and aviation education for Fiscal Year 2027, continuing Oklahoma’s commitment to putting aerospace education in classrooms, creating pathways into high-demand careers and positioning the state to lead the nation in developing the next generation of aerospace professionals.
The Fiscal Year 2027 framework dedicates $898,394 to competitive Aerospace and Aviation Education Program grants, $469,294 to Aerospace Classroom Laboratory Improvement grants, $204,250 to statewide education events, teacher training and professional development, $253,062 to STEM aerospace and aviation competitions and aircraft assembly programs, and $175,000 to the ODAA Aerospace Industry Internship Program.
“This is how Oklahoma stays out in front,” said ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies. “We are not waiting until students graduate to introduce them to aerospace. We are putting aviation and aerospace into their classrooms, giving them access to flight simulators, drones, aircraft builds, industry-aligned curriculum and hands-on experiences, and connecting what they learn in school directly to the careers waiting for them here in Oklahoma.”
A major component of today’s action was continued support for the Department’s education efforts by awarding $898,394 in grants to 108 different applicants ranging from the traditional classroom environment as well as summer flight camps and academies, robotics and engineering competitions, aviation maintenance programs, UAS and drone education, teacher training, aerospace workforce development, and hands-on flight experiences. The grants cover a variety of support needs, ranging from flight simulators and drones to laboratory equipment, professional development, maintenance tools, and student aerospace experiences.
Today’s actions also provide significant support for schools implementing the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s (AOPA) “You Can Fly” high school curriculum, helping districts establish and expand aviation pathways that can include aerospace engineering, aviation maintenance technician, private pilot and unmanned aircraft systems instruction. The investments being made by Oklahoma schools to develop more sophisticated career pathways are providing a multitude of options for future students. Several schools, for example, plan to offer AOPA pathways across grades 9-12, as well as offering a Choose Aerospace maintenance program for grades 11-12 and integrating construction of a Van’s RV-12S aircraft through the Tango Flight program as a senior capstone project. In addition, other districts are adding flight simulators, UAS programs, aviation maintenance instruction, and industry experiences.
Among the programs receiving support are the University of Oklahoma Sooner Flight Academy, which provides K-12 students hands-on aviation, aerospace and STEM experiences; FIRST Robotics; Oklahoma State University’s Speedfest aircraft engineering competition; the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge; and the Aerospace Maintenance Council Competition.
The ODAA’s investment also reaches students from elementary school through higher education. Grants support programs such as aerospace learning at Pamela Hodson Elementary in Owasso, an expanding aerospace focus at Rollingwood Elementary in Putnam City, UAS engineering education at the University of Oklahoma, and hands-on flight experiences for Whittier Middle School students through Sooner Flight Academy.
“Our goal is simple: if a young person in Oklahoma is interested in aviation, aerospace, engineering, drones, aircraft maintenance or space, we want to ensure we offer them a pathway to pursue it,” Paula Kedy, Statewide Aerospace STEM Education Manager said. “No matter where they live, Oklahoma students should be able to see themselves in this industry and begin preparing for those careers before they ever leave high school.”
ODAA’s Fiscal Year 2027 education investment builds a statewide talent pipeline designed to serve one of Oklahoma’s most important industries while giving students practical opportunities to turn an interest in flight and space into a career.
| School / Institution | Project / Program | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Ada City Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Ardmore Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $3,000 |
| Arkoma Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $2,148 |
| Arrow Christian Academy | AOPA/UAS Aerospace Pathway | $3,025 |
| Bethany Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $8,977 |
| Blair Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $7,300 |
| Boone-Apache Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $10,900 |
| Bristow Public Schools | AOPA/Choose Aerospace Pathway | $9,000 |
| Broken Arrow Public Schools — Vanguard Academy | AOPA Pilot & UAS Pathways | $10,916 |
| Broken Bow Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Burns Flat-Dill City Public Schools | AOPA Pilot & UAS Pathways | $5,480 |
| Byng Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $5,000 |
| Calera Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $8,410 |
| Cameron University | Aerospace Engineering & Applied Mathematics Summer Academy | $4,760 |
| Canute Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $11,300 |
| Chisholm Public Schools | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $1,400 |
| Choteau-Mazie Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $10,500 |
| Claremore Public Schools | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $12,000 |
| Coalgate Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $8,600 |
| Coleman Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $9,360 |
| Cordell Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $8,200 |
| Coweta Public Schools | AOPA/Choose Aerospace Career Pathway | $7,750 |
| Cushing Public Schools | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $2,826 |
| Deer Creek Public Schools | PreK-12 Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Dove Science Academy High School Tulsa | Aerial Drone/UAS Program | $2,490 |
| Dove Science Academy Middle School OKC | Aerial Drone/UAS Program | $2,689 |
| Dove Science Academy Middle School Tulsa | Aerial Drone/UAS Program | $2,490 |
| Dove Science Academy South | Aerospace/UAS Pathway | $2,490 |
| Dove Virtual Academy | FAA Part 107 & UAS Training Program | $5,000 |
| Edmond Memorial High School | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $11,000 |
| Edmond Santa Fe High School | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $8,800 |
| El Reno Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $11,000 |
| Grandfield Public Schools | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $9,150 |
| Grove Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $8,000 |
| Haworth Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $10,700 |
| High Plains Technology Center | Rural Aerospace & UAS Workforce Pipeline | $15,250 |
| Hilldale Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $12,700 |
| Indiahoma Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $1,400 |
| Jay Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $11,000 |
| Jenks Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $8,097 |
| John Marshall Enterprise High School | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $8,150 |
| Ketchum Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $6,590 |
| Kiefer Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Konawa Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $10,965 |
| Lawton Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Lexington Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $3,000 |
| Madill Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Merritt Public Schools | PreK-12 Aerospace Pathway | $10,000 |
| Mid-Del Technology Center | AOPA Curriculum / FAA Pilot Preparation | $9,000 |
| Mounds Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $4,250 |
| Moyers Public Schools | AOPA / FAA Part 107 Pathway | $5,250 |
| Mustang Public Schools | PreK-12/AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Navajo Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $2,690 |
| Newcastle Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $9,550 |
| Oklahoma Aviation Academy — Norman Public Schools | AOPA Pilot Pathway / Flight Simulators | $13,500 |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | Dual-Rotor Aerospace Educational Controls Program | $5,944 |
| Oklahoma Christian School | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |
| Oklahoma State University | Speedfest Aircraft Engineering Competition | $20,000 |
| Olustee/El Dorado Public Schools | Drone Program | $2,700 |
| Oral Roberts University | Drone Propeller Efficiency Study | $11,747 |
| Pamela Hodson Elementary — Owasso Public Schools | “We Can Fly” Elementary Aerospace Program | $3,000 |
| Pryor Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $11,000 |
| Putnam City Public Schools — Putnam City Aviation | AOPA/Choose Aerospace Pathways | $12,000 |
| Quinton Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $8,250 |
| Rejoice Christian School | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $1,500 |
| Rock Creek Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $7,100 |
| Rollingwood Elementary — Putnam City Schools | Elementary Aerospace Program | $4,000 |
| Rose State College | Aerospace Discovery Camp | $3,475 |
| Sapulpa Public Schools | AOPA/Choose Aerospace Aviation Program | $4,400 |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University | “Take Flight” Aerospace Camp | $10,000 |
| Southmoore High School — Moore Public Schools | AOPA Aviation Pathway | $6,375 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University | NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge | $6,000 |
| Stillwater Public Schools | AOPA/Tango Flight Aerospace Pathway | $10,000 |
| Sulphur Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $10,000 |
| Tulsa Technology Center | Aerospace Maintenance Competition | $6,400 |
| Tupelo Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $3,050 |
| University of Oklahoma — Board of Regents | UAS Fundamentals & Applications for Engineers | $10,000 |
| University of Oklahoma — Sooner Flight Academy | Aviation & Aerospace Camps / Scholarships | $38,000 |
| Vinita Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $11,500 |
| Watonga Public Schools | AOPA/Tango Flight Aircraft Build Pathway | $9,000 |
| Wayne Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $9,400 |
| Weatherford Public Schools | AOPA & Aviation Mechanics Pathways | $10,760 |
| Western Heights Public Schools | Aerospace/AOPA Pathway | $9,000 |
| Wetumka Public Schools | AOPA “You Can Fly” Aerospace Pathway | $8,550 |
| Whittier Middle School — Norman Public Schools | Sooner Flight Academy Experiences | $4,800 |
| William Bradford Christian School | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $5,300 |
| Wilson Public Schools | AOPA / FAA Part 107 Pathway | $8,250 |
| Wister Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $9,880 |
| Woodward Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $8,700 |
| Wright City Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway / NASA Experience | $12,000 |
| Wyandotte Public Schools | AOPA Aerospace Pathway | $12,000 |