History was made at Reedley College, as the inaugural class of graduates from the flight science program were honored in a brief ceremony in the Aeronautics Building December 10. Five students “earned their wings” after two years of hard work, with three of the graduates already working as flight instructors. Four of the students attended the ceremony, with Zachary Clayton joining via Zoom from Montana, where he will start working as a flight instructor in January. “Thank you so much to the Reedley College staff, because they truly made this a very memorable experience for each and every one of us,” said newly minted graduate Lorenzo Rios, who spoke for his class during the ceremony. “Each of our instructors have definitely taken the time out of their day to make sure that if we had any questions whatsoever, they would take care of us… my dad said find a career that you don’t feel as though you won’t work a day in your life, and I can safely say that I found that, and it’s thanks to the Reedley College (flight science) program.” The ceremony was attended by immediate family only, due to COVID-19 restrictions, as well as members of the media, who conducted interviews following the ceremony. Other guest speakers were Reedley College President Dr. Jerry Buckley, JB Aeronautics Owner Jim Brannon, JB Aeronautics Flight Instructor Emilio Rosales, and Flight Science Program Coordinator John Johnson. Each of the graduates received flight jackets with “Flying Tigers” patches on the left shoulder, a tradition that will continue for years to come. The graduation was also recorded live on Zoom, with friends, family and district employees proudly watching.
REEDLEY COLLEGE FLIGHT SCIENCE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2020:David Castaneda-Brown
Antonio G. Chacon
Zachary A. Clayton
Jhonathan Flores
Lorenzo A. Rios
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
-Leonardo da Vinci
#GoTigers
