Welcome to the Westosha Central High School STEM Aviation Program
Our STEM Aviation Program provides aviation education to high school students in grades 9–12, with 12 to 18 students participating per year. We have a workshop at Westosha Central High School in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin. Students gather weekly in this dedicated space for meetings, build sessions, and ground school. The Burlington Municipal Airport (KBUU) serves as home base for all flight operations. The latest Van’s RV-12iS plane built by the Central High School STEM Aviation Club, F3 Tiercel, is located at KBUU in a generously donated hangar. The program educates students in the principles of aircraft construction, physics of flight, and concepts of metallurgy — and we explore opportunities and careers in the aviation field.
Help us keep building.
Donate
Our Undertaking
Our project is the building of a Van’s RV-12iS. Westosha Central High School is one of four participating high schools across the nation. The Central High School STEM Aviation Program provides students a unique, inspiring, and empowering STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education experience. Our program is designed to enhance students’ technical, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills while fostering an appreciation for diverse cultures. We do this through a mentor-led program that inspires and ignites student, school, and community pride. The Central High School STEM Aviation Program is a participant in a larger organization called Eagle’s Nest Projects Wisconsin. ENPW is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization inspiring future aviators and leaders.
%
Funded by Donations
Mission
Central High School STEM Aviation Program is designed to inspire the next generation of aviation leaders. We provide students with an experiential education that excites, engages, and enriches through a unique, learn-by-doing curriculum focused around aviation.
Westosha Central High School
Westosha Central High School is a public high school located in the village of Paddock Lake, Wisconsin, bordering the village of Salem Lakes. We serve high school students in grades 9 through 12 in the municipalities of Wheatland, Salem, Brighton, Paris, Paddock Lake, Trevor, New Munster, and Bristol. The school was founded in 1952. Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year was 1,131 students.
STEM
This program meets the Natural Science Foundation (NSF) and the NASA Directorate by expanding the number of students involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. This program will help improve the STEM pipeline by including underserved and/or underrepresented students in the project. As part of the NSF goal, this program will provide training to young women and men to pursue a career in the aviation field. Our program uses a modified engineering design model process. This process is a STEM-driven, hands-on curriculum. We use the building of the Van’s RV-12iS aircraft as the activity to engage learners at every level, and provide real-world learning opportunities that expose students to careers in science and technology. Our program also stresses critical 21st century skills, such as communication and teamwork. Our curriculum involves both student-directed and teacher-led curricula to create a powerful and effective STEM experience.