James and Angela Thompson Receive National Aviation Award

DALLAS - Feb. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Washington, D. C., February 9, 2015 - Dallas residents James (Jim) and Angela Thompson have been selected by The National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) as the recipients of the 2014 Dr. Mervin K. Strickler Aerospace Education Award, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the

The Dr. Mervin K. Strickler Jr. Award to be given to Jim and Angela Thompson was established field of aerospace education. The award will be presented at Aero Club of Washington D.C.’s February 26 luncheon, Capital Hilton Hotel, 16^th and K Street.  Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are being recognized for the development of the Blue Sky Education Foundation and its outstanding “Aim Higher Program.”

in 1995 by NCASE to honor Dr. Strickler and recognize individuals or organizations that share his personal commitment and lifelong contributions to aerospace education. Dr. Strickler has promoted aerospace education for more than 55 years and is considered the “father” of aerospace education.

As Dallas residents determined to make a significant positive impact on the students in their own community, the Thompsons launched Blue Sky Educational Foundation (BSEF) with a $1 million gift in January 2014. BSEF is partnering with the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) to implement a STEM Program through the motivational content of aviation and flight. During the 2013-2014 school year a total of 14 elementary schools adopted the Program with 30 classrooms participating impacting more than 800 students. Based on this success, the Program is expected to expand to nine additional elementary schools during the 2014-2015 school year.

In addition to the DISD program, BSEFallows students to attend aviation camps in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida. Students currently attending these camps during the summer each year are from Dallas, Texas;  Orlando and Sanford, Florida; and Taos and Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to helping schools develop and implement aviation science courses, the Foundation is providing complete support for teachers as well.

The Aim Higher Program has been implemented by the Foundation in Orlando, Sanford, and Winter Park, Florida; and Taos, New Mexico. The program provides curriculum, teacher professional development, and aviation teaching materials so schools can implement a five-day a week course for the entire year in middle schools and high schools.

The program uses aviation content to motivate students who had previously been underachievers in high school. As a reward for successfully completing the aviation science class and doing well in all other classes at school, students are provided a trip 3-4 day trip to the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida and the EAA Air Academy, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  The Thompsons are not only supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning, but are growing aviation participation in significant numbers.

Using the motivational force of aviation to inspire interest and learning and in teaching STEM is the basis for BSEF and the Aim Higher Program.The Thompsons have reached more than 1,000 students this year and student involvement will continue to increase annually as new schools and individual students are added to the programs.

Jim Thompson is President and CEO of Preston Hollow Capital, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of ORIX USA. Jim serves on the board of ORIX Foundation, which provides basic needs to children and families in the communities where ORIX USA employees live and work.

Angela Thompson is a healthcare professional who has experienced the needs of medically fragile children and adults first-hand. She is an advocate for several organizations, such as the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, which works to raise public awareness of the importance of enabling individuals to participate fully in life, and The Smile Train, which provides life-changing medical services to children in need.

For more information regarding Blue Sky Foundation and the Aim Higher Program please visit www.Blueskyfoundation.org