The Aerospace Academy of the Eastern Shore (AAES) lab school has officially opened at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The new academy is focused on providing students with specialized education in aerospace engineering and data sciences. It operates in partnership with Accomack and Northampton County Public Schools, Eastern Shore Community College, and Old Dominion University.
Governor Youngkin stated, “With the launch of the Aerospace Academy of the Eastern Shore, we’re not just cutting a ribbon – we’re opening a gateway to the future. This Academy represents the best of what happens when educators, innovators, industry leaders, and communities come together with a bold mission: to inspire the next generation of pioneers. These students will be immersed in Virginia’s aerospace sector and launch into careers that will shape the skies and beyond. Our mission since day one has been not only to prepare students for the future, but to empower them to lead it.”
The AAES aims to provide high school students on Virginia’s Eastern Shore with skills needed for careers in aerospace fields through both standard coursework and dual-enrollment opportunities connected with NASA Wallops. The curriculum is developed by AAES faculty who also oversee academic standards.
Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera commented on the program’s importance: “Congratulations to the AAES on welcoming its first bright cohort. This program is critical to our goal of keeping the Commonwealth at the forefront of STEM and aerospace innovation. It’s workforce readiness at its best: hands-on, and high-impact. AAES students’ ingenuity and profound passion for aerospace education will continue to illuminate this field and this work.”
Students can choose between two main study paths: Aerospace Technology or Aerospace Engineering and Explorations. Through these programs, participants engage in regional projects related to aerospace, gain work experience through internships or placements, build electronic portfolios, network with employers in relevant industries, and have opportunities to earn college credits or career certifications.
State Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson said,“The launch of the Aerospace Academy on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is a milestone for our students and our Commonwealth. By partnering with NASA and leading space companies, we are opening doors to hands-on learning, inspiring the next generation of space explorers, engineers, and innovators.This academy will prepare our young people to lead in the Commonwealth’s high-demand aerospace and technology industries that are shaping the future and will be a model to learn from.”
AAES works closely with ODU (Old Dominion University) as well as other partners in an effort to expand access across communities—including efforts targeted toward underrepresented groups—by using a lottery system that selects 50 students annually from grades 9 through 12.
Hands-on experiences such as mission design activities are integral parts of student training at AAES; these partnerships help ensure graduates are prepared for immediate entry into local workforce needs within aviation or related sectors.
For further information about admissions or programming at AAES visit their website hosted by ODU.
