The skies over the Kent State Airport were buzzing Sept. 9-10 for the annual A&E Expo. The event offered community members opportunities to get up close with aircraft and pilots while touring the airport and chatting with staff and students of Kent State's College of Aeronautics and Engineering.
Thousands attended the family event, which has been a fixture in the Stow/Kent community for more than two decades. The Expo offers Kent State an opportunity to connect with the community while showcasing the exciting technology and flight training tools used every day at the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center, which is located at the airport.
The Expo allowed the university to honor and recognize its private pilots at the inaugural Private Pilot Pinning ceremony presented by Republic Airways.
Students who have earned their Private Pilot Certificate or completed their first flight course at Kent State are invited to participate in the ceremonial pinning of wings.
Private pilots received two sets of wings from a Kent State alumnus who is a professional pilot.
The wings differed in size, including a larger set to be worn at formal events and gatherings and a smaller lapel set to be worn in business casual settings.
The event also featured vintage aircraft, airplane and flight simulator rides, and award-winning student organizations, including the Kent State High Power Rocket Team, the Kent State X-Bots and the Flying Flashes.
The weekend also included the Dick Schwabe Memorial Golf Scramble, presented by Gulfstream and hosted by One Golf Three Alumni; an awards reception for CAE alumni and friends; and a pancake breakfast to benefit Scout Troop 177.
Serving the community since 1917, the Kent State Airport is conveniently located 4 miles from Kent State University's Kent Campus and provides quick and easy access to the communities, attractions and businesses of Portage and Summit counties. Having its own airport to train the pilots of tomorrow is yet another distinguishing opportunity Kent State makes available to students.