The AMA Foundation works closely with various different departments within AMA throughout the year. We at the Foundation would not find nearly as much success in all of our endeavors if it weren't for you, our generous members and donors, and all of AMA's hardworking staff members.
All of AMA works tirelessly on behalf of our members and our hobby. Today, we'd like to shine the spotlight on an extremely successful department that we've recently worked very closely with—the AMA Education department.
Following is a snapshot of the incredible accomplishments of the AMA Education team in 2024, provided by the AMA Education department.
2024 Education Department in Review:
Thanks to the unwavering support of the AMA Foundation, AMA's Education team has been equipped to expand many important initiatives this year.
Some of the most rewarding support that we provide is to individual AMA members and clubs who are sharing our hobby, sport, and career pathways in their communities. We provide physical materials such as balsa gliders, ARCONIC educator kits, AMA ALPHA and AMA BETA Free Flight aircraft, brochures, and magazines directly to modelers in support of their events and activities. We also love sharing how-to resources with clubs for hosting community events. In addition, the Education team hosts a wealth of free online projects and activities at www.amaflightschool.org to use before, during, and/or after events. We are humbled by the great work that AMA members accomplish and are honored to support your efforts.
The AMA Education team is building the visibility and credibility of AMA on a national stage. Investing in relationships with other aviation organizations is core to this effort. To that end, 2024 was a year of incredible growth. The AMA Education team signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA, formalizing our longstanding relationship. This was conducted on the heels of our newly formalized partnership with the FAA Aviation and Space Education Program. We continue to work closely with other great partners, including the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Women in Aviation International, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, and Civil Air Patrol. This ensures that we can share not only the joy but the potential of aeromodeling. AMA is increasingly recognized as a subject matter expert, leading to increased opportunities to advocate for model aviation and aviation as a whole.
Speaking of the potential of aeromodeling, it has been a great privilege to see a growing interest among students in building, flying, and competing using emerging materials and technology. Today's drone technology is a direct result of lessons learned from the hard work and determination of modelers throughout history. Growing AMA's membership has always meant embracing new approaches to model building, and we are happy to report that this is still true today.
Students and adults from across the nation are becoming AMA members to compete in our sanctioned UAS4STEM student drone engineering challenge. This officially sanctioned contest has been managed by AMA for over a decade, bringing youth into model aviation with the challenge of using advanced drones to accomplish real-world tasks. Students build and fly model aircraft, complete a Part 107-preparatory ground school, and learn a plethora of skills that contribute to their future success. Perhaps most importantly, these students report the following when asked about their favorite part of the competition: "We really love building and flying with our friends." Most of us can relate!
The Education team is dedicated to providing as many quality resources as possible to current members and those who are just discovering the hobby of model aviation. We consistently seek and pursue funding outside of AMA member dues to support this mission. We appreciate the funding that we receive and seek to expand our impact by mobilizing the variety of resources available to us, including sponsorships, grants, contracts, and in-kind partnerships.
Through your generosity, we look forward to promoting, informing, and inspiring love for model aviation across the nation.
The AMA Foundation would like to extend immense thanks to the AMA Education team for their efforts and impressive achievements. Keep an eye out for some very exciting Education projects in 2025, in addition to several innovative programs from the AMA Foundation.
Together, we are helping to shape the future of model aviation. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey.
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