Project Scientist Students Think Physics With The JetBlue Foundation at Long Beach Airport
Last week, JetBlue and Long Beach Airport in Southern California welcomed 75 young girls from Project Scientist STEM Expedition, a 2016 JetBlue Foundation grant recipient. Through its engaging, hands-on curriculum and partnerships with top companies and universities, Project Scientist empowers girls who show passion and talent for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Each week the students focus on a different theme. Physics week led the girls to Long Beach Airport where they toured the facilities and met with JetBlue crewmembers.
From the ticket counter and the baggage area to aircraft maintenance, the students received an up close look at JetBlue’s operation in Long Beach. Crewmembers also provided first-hand perspectives about their jobs with the airline.
The goal of Project Scientist is to educate, coach, and advocate for girls and women with an aptitude, talent and passion for STEM. The program serves low-income girls ages 4-12. With a grant from the JetBlue Foundation, more girls will have access to six weeks of programming at Caltech during summer 2016 and throughout the 2016-2017 school year.
Earlier this year, the JetBlue Foundation awarded six grants totaling $150,000 aviation programs that support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives. The JetBlue Foundation is an education-focused entity which furthers the airline’s effort to place aviation top-of-mind as a career choice for students. These grants will help propel programs including initiatives that reach underserved communities including women, minority groups and veterans. In addition to grants, the JetBlue Foundation also provides in-kind support to make a difference among the next generation of aviators, dispatchers, aircraft mechanics and pilots.
Over the past three years, the JetBlue Foundation has built lasting relationships with more than 20 aviation-focused programs and provided nearly $350,000 in grants to help these programs take off. The JetBlue Foundation, founded in 2013, is legally independent from JetBlue and has a separate Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee both made up of JetBlue crewmembers from across the airline. To learn more about the JetBlue Foundation, visit www.jetblue.com/InspiringHumanity.
