First Annual

Aviation Education Expo

October 3, 2006, provided a fascinating view of a young aviator and entrepreneur for a group of high school students. The First Annual Aviation Education Expo was held at the Frederick Municipal Airport on October 3, 2006. Carolyn Slivinski represented the AIAA, Baltimore Section.

Almost 200 students, aged 16-18, were invited to this event, and arrived by the busload. Their keynote speaker was Jamal Larkins, a 22-year-old acrobatic pilot and aviation entrepreneur. Jamal has appeared on “Late Night with David Letterman”, NBC Nightly News, and been featured in magazines such as Parade and USA Today. .

Jamal took his first flight at age 12, and two years later became one of America’s youngest pilots. Now, Jamal is not only a 3.84 GPA senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he serves as the FAA Aviation Education and Safety Ambassador. As Ambassador, he visits schools on his DreamLaunch Tour. Part of the message of DreamLaunch is “Navigating the Journey of Life”; in the keynote address, he showed how his techniques can be used by students to launch and achieve their own personal dreams. [Visit Jamal’s website at www.JamailLarkins.com for more.]

The attending students were treated to this and other motivational talks, as well as many booths with information, in the cavernous hangar space provided at the airport.