The Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), in collaboration with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, achieved an outstanding fundraising milestone at the Second Annual DTW Golf Classic. Hosted at the picturesque Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti on September 15, 2023, the event raised $250,000 for Davis Aerospace Technical High School in Detroit.
WCAA CEO Chad Newton highlighted the event’s intent, stating, “The DTW Golf Classic enables us to give back to our region, which supports our airport each day. This year, we selected Davis Aerospace Technical High School to empower and create opportunities for our young people. Davis Aerospace is introducing teens to careers in aviation at a time when the industry needs them most. We’re proud to have a Davis graduate on our Airport Authority staff and we’d love for more alums to join our team.”
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans spoke highly of the chosen beneficiary, noting, “This year’s DTW Golf Classic beneficiary is Davis Aerospace Technical High School, and I can’t think of a more worthy recipient. This is a school that helps our young people not just reach for the stars, but to actually reach them. Last year the Golf Classic raised $175,000 for Alternatives for Girls. By taking care of our young people, whether in achieving their goals or meeting their needs when in distress, the DTW Golf Classic is helping to build a better community for all of us.”
WCAA Board Chair Athina Papas expressed her pride in the community’s collective effort, saying, “I am incredibly proud of not only the Wayne County Airport Authority team, but also our community for coming together for such a great cause. This outing will have a lasting impact on so many lives.”
The significance of Davis Aerospace goes beyond typical high school education. The school offers an aviation curriculum endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration, which readies students for prominent roles in aviation, aerospace, and associated sectors. Embedded in this unique curriculum are subjects like mathematics, science, and technology. Beyond theory, students are exposed to practical experiences, from flight training to training in state-of-the-art simulators. Notably, the Airport Authority initiated a Co-Op program for Davis Aerospace students in 2015, with three students benefiting this past summer.
Kerrie Mitchell, President and CEO of the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, emphasized the donation’s transformative potential, asserting, “This critical donation that’s going to benefit Davis Aerospace, this is going to allow the students to be able to become pilots, go into the aviation field. You’re talking about a new pipeline of success—something that many of our students haven’t seen before.”
Michelle Davis, Principal of Davis Aerospace Technical High School, expressed profound gratitude, stating, “I believe that whatever we care about, we put our funds behind and we absolutely have to be invested in our children. This donation is a level of investment that is life changing. We will be able to do things for our children and our school that we would not otherwise be able to do.”
A significant acknowledgment is owed to the event’s sponsors. This monumental donation was made possible by the overwhelming generosity of over 30 sponsors, with Diamond Sponsors including Delta Air Lines, Huntington, Siebert Williams Shank, and SSP America.
Through endeavors like the DTW Golf Classic, the future of aviation education in Detroit shines even brighter.