Keeping history alive and aloft and
using it to elevate the next generation.
That's the goal of 1 very determined woman,
and she's showing local kids who have
the chips stacked against them that
the sky is quite literally the limit.
Becca Habegger shows us this driven passion
project and how you can get involved.
OK everyone, her name is Joyce Sherman.
This is Becca as she is from channel 10,
but here she goes by Miss Joyce.
She'll be doing our interviews today.
She has asked a couple of students
to share their story who just went
through the Youth Aviation program
and the George S Spanky Roberts
chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.
It's important to hear
from them because they excelled in the
program and but I mean excel, you know,
guys excel me. OK, over and beyond.
It gives young people who might
not otherwise have the chance to
learn about the field of aviation.
We do have flight aviation
and we do have drone
training. We just want to be
able to let students know there's
something else out there for them.
There are actually more careers
beyond just being a pilot in aviation,
like being an engineer being able
to build the tarmacs 12 year old
Seth Gotti of Rancho Cordova.
I also learned about like what
goes on behind the scenes,
especially with air traffic control
and 14 year old Alejandro Spencer
of Folsom graduated this fall
from the six month program.
I feel like this would be a
great career path for me to take.
I really learned a lot.
In this class that would help me maybe
in the future as a career for a pilot's
parents or guardians have to be
on board bringing kids to class
and kids need to be committed.
But for that they receive entirely
for free and education about
aviation and what Joyce hopes is a
fast track to a rewarding career.
My
husband, Colonel Thomas Sherman,
started the program under the
George Espanca rabbis chapter as
the Youth Aviation director starting
from 2008 because he had a passion
for passing on his knowledge.
He was in the Air Force.
He was a navigator with the B52-D model.
And this is when I get out.
I want to pass it on to the youth.
He was the love of her
life for half a century. He
used to be in a wheelchair teaching
the students at McClellan.
He would ride around with this computer,
and this clipboard lined him up for
the free flights to Folsom and back.
He never gave up teaching, you know,
as long as he could do it, he did it.
Colonel Thomas Sherman died in 2020 after
catching COVID in his care facility.
Because he has such a passion
and we worked together.
When he was alive, I thought,
I can't let this program die.
Thank you so much for all
you have done. She wishes her
husband could be here to see the
sparkle in these boys eyes as they
talk about the program he launched
once she said she wants to keep
her husband's legacy going.
That's what touched me,
I said, you know, and that's
exactly what I'm help her do.
This Youth Aviation program has a
shot at surviving with passionate
pilots like Elijah Patterson.
Now 17, he got his license at
age 16 with help from the pilot
who teaches in Joyce's program.
I'm going to give back to the community.
He's so inspired by the program he plans
on becoming a volunteer teacher himself,
passing on the knowledge and
legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
One of the most highly respected
combat units of World War Two,
the Tuskegee Airmen included the nation's
first black military pilots as well as
other aviation related support staff.
Overcoming discrimination
and racial segregation,
the Tuskegee Airmen proved to the
military and the nation that people
of color had just as much right
and ability to be in the cockpit
as their white counterparts.
Once I found out about the
Tuskegee Airmen and you know,
going back to that time it was very
hard and that they achieved it.
I said there's no way in the world that
I'm going to think I can't do that.
And that's what happened.
I wouldn't did it just like them.
So I know if they saw that they'd be proud.
And by me knowing that I'm
glad that would make me happy.
Here's where you come in.
The Youth Aviation program is recruiting
students for its next free class
starting in January and is always
looking for pilots to donate their time.
Anyone with interest can reach out,
but let's give some underprivileged,
underserved youth and opportunity to
go into the career field of aviation.
If you want to support in another way,
the chapter is holding.
It's big annual luncheon fundraiser
on Saturday in Roseville and
tickets are available now,
so you'll Saturday, OK, OK.
I have no doubt those students
will all be flying high,
and we do have more information about
Saturday's fundraiser for this free,
again free Youth Aviation program
serving kids aged 13 through 17
from underserved and under sorry,
underrepresented communities.
Now organizers say that
even if you can't attend,
you are welcome to donate.
All you have to do is just
head to abc10.com/links.