LATROBE, PA – Saint Vincent College will host “Aviation Careers Night” from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, inside the Fred M. Rogers Center on campus.
“The event is open to anyone interested in exploring the multiple opportunities in the aviation industry, including piloting,” said Dr. Michael Urick, C’04, dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government at Saint Vincent College. “We're really excited to welcome an expert group of speakers and panelists to share their experiences.”
Urick will kick off the event with an introduction and overview of the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management – Professional Pilot program. Following the program overview will be a 45-minute careers and education panel.
Panelists include James Arnold, Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy school administrator; Nathaniel Denault, founder and director of operations at Aerial Applications; and Dr. John Higgs, senior dean of the James M. Johnson School of Aviation Sciences at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC).
Following the careers and education panel discussion, five Saint Vincent College undergraduates enrolled in the aviation program will participate in a student perspectives panel.
The students include Aidan Hillegass, C 28, of Oxford, and Zach Hoffman, C 29, of Irwin, who are enrolled in the advanced piloting track; Timothy Jakubek, C 28, of Glenshaw, and Jade Schuffert, C 29, of Leechburg, who are enrolled in the professional pilot track; and Leo Sun, C 28, of Greensburg, a double major enrolled in the professional pilot track who is also studying management.
The night will close out with a one-hour presentation by Matt Khan, who serves as vice president of operations strategy and transformation at Wheels Up, one of the largest private aviation companies in the world.
Interested attendees must register online. Registrations deadline is Wednesday, March 11.
Saint Vincent College introduced its Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management – Professional Pilot program in January 2024.
“It has quickly become a highly enrolled program at Saint Vincent. It’s unique in its blend of piloting and business,” Urick said. “Through an excellent partnership with the Community College of Beaver County, Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy and the nearby Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Saint Vincent is able to provide an excellent aviation education for our students, which we believe will benefit the region and industry.”
The program integrates a pilot's license, an associate degree from CCBC and a bachelor's degree from Saint Vincent within a four-year timeframe.
