I, Jasmine (Fowlkes) Clennon, attended the Daniel Chappie James Flight Academy in 2001 (please double check my attendee year, it’s been a while) and I returned as a mentor and volunteer intermittently through the years that followed.

My fondest memory of the flight academy was on “fly day/graduation” when I had an opportunity to fly 1:1 with an Emory Riddle student who was a black woman. Now, this is important in a society that constantly tells us that girls, African American girls specifically, lack exposure opportunities to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Looking back fondly on it as an adult, this was a major moment and a memory I will always cherish.

It’s experiences like these that I know have had an impact on my career and success today. Currently, I am working in technology as an employee at Facebook in New York City, and I thank the Daniel Chappie James Flight academy, its mentors, supporters, and founding pilots for the impact that they played in my life so early on, and for the encouragement, they still give me to this day.