Oakey students soar
School kids take out aviation awards
TWO Oakey State High School students are flying high after winning big at the the 14th Aerospace Education Awards yesterday.
Year 11 student Jack Lord won the major Qantas Quest Award, sponsored by Qantas Airways.
Fellow student Megan Weber took home the Australian Youth Aerospace Association Future Leader in Aerospace Award.
The Aerospace Education Awards honours the work done by students across 18 Queensland schools that are part of the Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools project, which gives students the opportunity to undertake structured workplace learning, apprenticeships and traineeships in the aviation industry.
Oakey State High School, Wilsonton State High School and Lockyer District State High School are all a part of the program.
Training Minister Shannon Fentiman said she congratulated the winners at yesterday’s ceremony at Parliament House in Brisbane.
“These awards acknowledge and celebrate our high achievers and the future leaders in aviation and I congratulate Oakey State High students Jack Lord and Megan Weber on their awards,” she said.
“Queensland is developing into a leading centre for aerospace innovation, with Qantas due to open its pilot training academy at Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba next year, and the new Brisbane runway scheduled for completion in 2020.
“The 18 Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools have produced a number of highflyers.”
Ms Fentiman said the Queensland Government had investment about $11.7 million in aviation education since 2015 as they were jobs of the future.
“Rapid advances in technology are changing the nature of work, especially in the aerospace industry,” Ms Fentiman said.