WCCC E-News

Amber Hawk and Molly Addis, both Warren County Career Center Satellite Teachers, teach Project Lead the Way at Kings Junior High School and Little Miami Junior High School, respectively. Both received information about Air Camp for educators, held at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and decided to apply. “A few months later, to my surprise, I received an email saying I had been accepted,” Hawk said. “The chance to fly a real plane sounded incredible, and I saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plus, I knew it would be something amazing to bring back and share with my students in the classroom.”

Addis was excited to have the chance to fly an airplane but also teaches a Flight & Space class and wanted to gain knowledge to share with her students.

Participants in Air Camp are provided unique access to aviation and aeronautics sites that promote creativity, productivity, and engagement. The camp also includes expert instruction about physics of flight and the chance to network with other STEM teachers with the goal of helping students. One of Hawk’s favorite activities is one she’s already planning on adapting for her Medical Detectives class. “One of the standout activities was a lab where we tested different aspects of rocket design, like the shape of the nose cone, fin shape, and body length,” Hawk said. “After testing each factor independently, we collaborated to build our ‘perfect’ rocket.” Addis exclaimed, “the entire camp was awesome. We visited several museums, worked on drones and practiced flying in flight simulators.”

Hawk went on to say, “while all the lessons were fantastic, my biggest takeaway was experiencing what it's like to be a student who's completely lost, yet eager to learn. There were moments of frustration, but also moments of excitement when things finally clicked and I understood what the instructor was teaching. I especially loved the hands-on activities—that's where I really thrived. This experience reminded me how important it is to create a classroom environment where students feel safe not only to learn but also to take risks and embrace failure as part of the process.”

Addis is excited to share my experiences to encourage students to attend the "Student Air Camp" that is offered in Dayton during the summer. When asked about flying the plane, Hawk said it was, “pretty awesome!” and Addis said it was the best part.

After moving to the Dayton region and looking for what to do in her next chapter, Bobbie Ruble took a chance. Despite almost convincing herself that she couldn’t draw blood she wanted to further her education and her career in some sort of medical field. She contacted Teresa Orloff, Coordinator of WCCC Adult Education Medical Programs, and began the process of enrolling in the Medical Assistant program.

Her constant smile was unforgettable, according to program director Teresa Orloff. “Even when classes were hard and she was tired, she always smiled and never complained,” Orloff said. “During the entire 5 months of class, her daughter, Grace, sat in her car during Bobbie's classes. It was truly a dedicated family getting Bobbie through the program. She is a special person.”

Bobbie works for Healthsource of Ohio, in Loveland, originally working as a scheduler for the company before completing her MA program. “The company I work for has gone above and beyond welcoming me as a new medical assistant,” she said. “I’m doing bloodwork, vaccines, and more! I’m assisting with the procedures, and I love that. I get to assist an amazing doctor… For once in my life I can actually say, ‘I love my job!’”