Story ID: 
The sky is  not the limit
By: Martha Jercinovich
Caption: Since it opened in 1932, Vaughn College has provided life-enriching aviation, engineering, and technology training and education for thousands of graduates from underserved communities throughout the Northeast U.S.
Word Count: 398
No matter what segment of aviation you are in, you’re likely facing the need for trained professionals to fill a growing number of job openings. The shortage of applicants doesn’t mean that young people aren’t dreaming of an aviation job; it’s just that many lack the opportunity to receive the necessary training.
Since it opened at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Vaughn College has provided that education to help meet the industry’s need for skilled and motivated professionals.
“During World War II, we were the leading provider of training for aircraft mechanics,” states Dr. Sharon DeVivo, Vaughn College’s President and CEO. “Today, 40 percent of our students are in aviation maintenance, and the rest are spread throughout our management-, engineering-, and technology-related programs.”
“We average around 300 graduates a year, and 92 percent are employed or continuing their education within one year of graduation,” she continues. “Boeing, Lockheed, SpaceX, Atlas Air, and others are all in the area, and from pilots to maintainers to engineers, managers, and whatever other positions they need filled, they need all the graduates we can send them.
From Underserved to Overachieving
Dr. DeVivo stresses that most of Vaughn College’s enrollees are from underserved families and that they aren’t lacking in ambition or determination.
“We rank number one nationally in moving graduates from the bottom of the income scale to the upper percentage,” she says. “That’s a testament to our faculty and students and our industry partners and supporters. Our graduates get amazing jobs not only as pilots and technicians but in every segment of aviation.
“We get a lot of support from major companies, and we appreciate it daily,” Dr. DeVivo notes. “But it needs to keep growing to continue to attract students from every background.
“With many new technologies evolving, aviation and aerospace are not slowing down,” she adds. “If anything, the need will become greater, and we have to start doing what we can now to keep that pipeline flowing with skilled professionals.”
The Solution	Over 90 years of preparing young people for all types of aviation and technology careers	Longest continuously ABET-accredited engineering technology program—since 1947	#1 ranking among 2,100 schools in the U.S. for upward mobility	One of only four ABET-accredited mechatronic (robotics) engineering degrees in the U.S.