NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – Community leaders gathered at the University of Oklahoma’s Max Westheimer Airport on Wednesday to break ground on the site of a new facility for the Oklahoma Aviation Academy.
The academy, administered by Norman Public Schools, integrates state-of-the-art STEAM education, industry partnerships and academic standards with a focus on aviation and aerospace.
Speaking to the crowd during the groundbreaking celebration, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said of the academy, “When you think about what takes place here, now we have a pipeline from K-12, into college, into graduate work.
“We have the No. 1 Aviation School, the No. 1 meteorology program in the world. We’re also world-class in severe storm prediction; No. 1 academic program in the world in radar...so when you think about this ecosystem, it’s not just about one component, it’s about being strategic and seeing how you lift the lives of individuals, how you lift the lives of a community, how you lift the national security for a country so you can provide peace and security for the world,” he said.
Aerospace and defense is the fastest growing industry in the state of Oklahoma. Through collaborations between the private sector, city and state government, OU and Moore Norman Technology Center, the Oklahoma Aviation Academy provides industry-connected education pathways for Oklahoma students to connect directly with higher education, career tech, and industry partners, ensuring career readiness in the high-demand areas of aviation and aerospace.
“Working with the University of Oklahoma, Moore Norman Technology Center and industry partners from both the public and private sectors helped us create this dedicated space that will benefit our students for years to come,” Justin Milner, associate superintendent and chief operating officer at Norman Public Schools, said.
Learn more about the Oklahoma Aviation Academy.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
Mary Margaret Holt, dean of the University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, has been honored with the Paseo Arts Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her leadership and contributions to Oklahoma’s arts community.
With winter weather already bringing low temperatures to the state, the Oklahoma Poison Center is urging residents to take extra precautions to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning as they begin heating their homes for the winter season. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly when inhaled in large quantities, and it poses a heightened risk as people rely on heating devices for warmth during cold weather.
Thanks to support from the Chickasaw Nation, the University of Oklahoma College of Law has announced the continuation and expansion of the Chickasaw Nation – Henry Family Lecture Series. Under the new name, the event will continue to showcase thought-provoking discourse surrounding the rule of law.
