552 participates in local education program
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --
Airmen from the 552nd Air Control Wing spent an afternoon mentoring 25 gifted high school students from the Del City district Nov. 13 as they toured the E-3 Sentry and mission simulators.
The event was sponsored by the DelQuest Future Leaders of America Program, which selects deserving high school juniors from the Del City district to participate in three days of leadership training and professional development.
"The program introduces the kids to leaders in many different positions and at all levels, from the lowest ranks to the highest," said Rex Barrett, member of the DelQuest board and director of Project OKC. "It is important for the students to be leaders now," he said, "and we are helping to provide the training and skills so that they can be."
The students who attended were chosen out of more than 40 applicants based on their written application and an individual interview conducted by a team of DelQuest sponsors, said Mr. Barrett.
"We look for two types of students to participate in the program: those who are already leaders and those who have the potential to be... the 'diamonds in the rough,'" he said. The selected students learned about leadership from the Del City Mayor, Brian Linley and other civic leaders who served as sponsors and chaperones for the program. When they came to Tinker, the 552nd Air Control Wing Airmen showed them leadership, Air Force style.
"Being at Tinker Air Force Base was great because we saw bunches of real live leaders and heroes in action," said Sarah Schiete, the first home-schooled student to earn a spot in the program.
During their visit, the students had the opportunity to speak with both Sentry flyers and maintainers to find out what could be in store for them if they chose a career in the United States Air Force. They were also individually coined by Col. Patricia Hoffman, 552nd ACW commander, who walked them through the aircraft and shared her leadership advice.
"All of the adults and mentors made an amazing and lasting impression on me," said Miss Schiete.
The students agreed that Col. Hoffman and the 552nd ACW Airmen are "awesome." The Airmen held a comparable opinion of the students.
"The kids were well-behaved, attentive, and inquisitive. They wanted to know everything they could about the mission simulators and the jet," said 2nd Lt. Jason Stockdale, 552nd Air Control Networks Squadron, who served as the project officer for the DelQuest visit.
"They were a fantastic bunch of students, and it was an absolute pleasure being around them," said Capt. Brian Hardeman, 552nd Operations Group, who served as the project officer for the DelQuest visit last year and is currently a member of the DelQuest board.
"There was a lot of work that went into this event and it was obvious that the kids enjoyed it," said Lieutenant Stockdale.
The students admitted to not only having fun, but also learning a lot about leadership qualities. They were impressed by the E-3 and amazed by the crew's ability to know what all of the buttons are for.
The event was sponsored by the DelQuest Future Leaders of America Program, which selects deserving high school juniors from the Del City district to participate in three days of leadership training and professional development.
"The program introduces the kids to leaders in many different positions and at all levels, from the lowest ranks to the highest," said Rex Barrett, member of the DelQuest board and director of Project OKC. "It is important for the students to be leaders now," he said, "and we are helping to provide the training and skills so that they can be."
The students who attended were chosen out of more than 40 applicants based on their written application and an individual interview conducted by a team of DelQuest sponsors, said Mr. Barrett.
"We look for two types of students to participate in the program: those who are already leaders and those who have the potential to be... the 'diamonds in the rough,'" he said. The selected students learned about leadership from the Del City Mayor, Brian Linley and other civic leaders who served as sponsors and chaperones for the program. When they came to Tinker, the 552nd Air Control Wing Airmen showed them leadership, Air Force style.
"Being at Tinker Air Force Base was great because we saw bunches of real live leaders and heroes in action," said Sarah Schiete, the first home-schooled student to earn a spot in the program.
During their visit, the students had the opportunity to speak with both Sentry flyers and maintainers to find out what could be in store for them if they chose a career in the United States Air Force. They were also individually coined by Col. Patricia Hoffman, 552nd ACW commander, who walked them through the aircraft and shared her leadership advice.
"All of the adults and mentors made an amazing and lasting impression on me," said Miss Schiete.
The students agreed that Col. Hoffman and the 552nd ACW Airmen are "awesome." The Airmen held a comparable opinion of the students.
"The kids were well-behaved, attentive, and inquisitive. They wanted to know everything they could about the mission simulators and the jet," said 2nd Lt. Jason Stockdale, 552nd Air Control Networks Squadron, who served as the project officer for the DelQuest visit.
"They were a fantastic bunch of students, and it was an absolute pleasure being around them," said Capt. Brian Hardeman, 552nd Operations Group, who served as the project officer for the DelQuest visit last year and is currently a member of the DelQuest board.
"There was a lot of work that went into this event and it was obvious that the kids enjoyed it," said Lieutenant Stockdale.
The students admitted to not only having fun, but also learning a lot about leadership qualities. They were impressed by the E-3 and amazed by the crew's ability to know what all of the buttons are for.
