UNK Aviation Program: Helping High School Students Spread Their Wings

Giving to others comes naturally to Dr. Dan Smith, who currently serves as Assistant Professor of Aviation at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Whether he’s giving away his time and talents to his country as he did while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom I, Operation Enduring Freedom, or many of the other duties he performed as a United States Marine, Smith’s goal has always been to serve others.

While serving his country as a lieutenant colonel in the USMC, Smith more than earned his wings as evidenced by the numerous decorations he received. These include the Meritorious Service Medal as well as many other commendation and achievement medals. To the high school students who get to hang out with him every Sunday, he’s more than all that; he’s a unique type of superhero—the kind who gives away his wings.

Smith, who has been teaching at UNK for the past year and a half, desires to “grow UNK’s aviation” program while also growing “the aviation community in general.” In order to accomplish this goal, he developed a program for local high school students. When he initially sent out emails to local high school principals, he wondered if he would hear back from any students. He wouldn’t have to wait long as word spread quickly among the teenagers, resulting in so much interest that Smith had to turn some away because there were more sign-ups than seats.

Back when he was in high school, he was interested in learning how to fly too, but his family quickly found out that it was a difficulty hobby to begin. Eventually becoming a pilot when he started his career in the military, Smith shares that, in addition to flying, one of his greatest pleasures was “mentoring young marines.” Combining the desire he remembers from his childhood with his interest in helping others recognize and achieve their goals, Smith has created a class for local high school students who may not have even thought of aviation as a career or may just not know how to get started.

Starting this past January, these high school students have had the opportunity to obtain the knowledge they need to help them eventually spread their wings and fly. The class started with a ground school where Smith has been “laying the groundwork” these students need to help them become pilots one day. He has been able to “share (his) excitement for aviation” while teaching these students for three hours every Sunday. A highlight of these Sunday sessions is the chance for students to take a discover flight where they spend a half hour in an aircraft. The course will continue through the end of April when they’ll have the chance to practice in UNK’s simulator.

In addition to Dr. Smith’s expertise, his students have been learning from some UNK students who are working on becoming certified flight instructors. Excited about the “desire to learn how to fly” he sees in his students, he is already looking forward to his next session which is scheduled for this summer.

He states that he thinks it’s great that these students are learning about aviation at such a young age. Although he enjoys working with these teenagers, he is most excited about giving them the knowledge they need to take them higher than most of them have ever imagined. He’s grateful for the part he gets to play in helping them achieve their goals.

It’s not just teens who are interested in the chance to learn how to fly though. Smith has already been fielding calls from adults in the area prompting him to plan for the next phase of this adventure.

Once upon a time, Dr. Dan Smith looked up at the sky and wondered what it would be like to float high above the ground. After a long career where he used his expertise in the air to serve his country, he has found another way to use his love of flying. At UNK, on any given Sunday, you can find him giving his wings away to help others soar as they reach heights way above the clouds.

Related Pages: UNK Aviation