Tampa Bay Juneteenth Celebration to Kickoff at Albert Whitted Airport

EMBARGOED UNTIL JUNE 16 — NOT A PUBLIC EVENT

Tampa Bay’s Juneteenth Celebration to Kickoff at Albert Whitted Airport

Academy Prep scholars to take Discovery Flights on Friday, June 16

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – June 16, 2023 – Students from Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg will get to experience what it’s like to be a pilot firsthand when they take Discovery Flights with St. Pete Air instructors at Albert Whitted Airport (AWA) this Friday, June 16, from 1-4pm. The event, taking place at 107 8th Avenue SE, is a first of many Juneteenth National Independence Day celebrations across the Tampa Bay area.

In addition to their flights, students will learn about barrier-breaking African American Aviators and get a chance to speak with pilots and instructors about what it takes to become an aviator.

“Academy Prep’s enrichment program is central to our mission, providing a wide variety of high quality, educational, and cultural activities outside of the academic setting, often leading to lifelong interests and careers,” said Ken Watson, Academy Prep Dean of Student Life. “We are grateful to our partners at Friends of Albert Whitted, St. Pete Air, and PASSAGE, for providing our scholars the incredible opportunity to learn about aviation and the science of aeronautics, and to discover new and exciting potential career paths possible for their future.”

This event will enable Academy Prep scholars to discover the beauty, art, and science of flying. Organizers hope it will open up new opportunities and inspire a lifelong love of aviation.

“We are so excited to help host these deserving young people and help Tampa Bay kickoff this important weekend of celebrations,” said Walt Driggers, Friends of AWA. “Albert Whitted Airport is all about discovery and opportunity and it’s amazing to see both in the faces of children experiencing the thrill of flying for the first time.”

###

ABOUT FRIENDS OF ALBERT WHITTED AIRPORT
Friends of AWA is a non-profit 501c3 – sponsored by pilots, business owners, instructors, and aviation enthusiasts – dedicated to connecting the St. Petersburg community to the past, present and future of Albert Whitted Airport. To learn more, please visit https://love4awa.com.

ABOUT ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF ST. PETERSBURG
For 25 years, Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg has been transforming our community…one child at a time. Academy Prep is a privately funded middle school with a mission to inspire and empower students qualifying for need-based scholarships to become future community leaders through a rigorous middle school program coupled with ongoing graduate support. Academy Prep teaches, strengthens, and then reinforces the importance of academics; social, life, and career skills; and leadership. Students attend Academy Prep for 10 hours a day, up to six days a week, 11 months per year on full scholarships provided by the local community. Upon graduation, students are provided graduate support services throughout high school and college. With 25 years of proven results, Academy Prep’s model has changed countless lives. Academy Prep graduates are not only tomorrow’s leaders, but today’s: they are pursuing advanced degrees and careers in every field and using their talents to give back to their community and to the school that gave them so much.

To learn more, please visit www.academyprep.org/stpete

To schedule a campus visit, or to learn more about Academy Prep, contact Lacey Nash Miller, Development Director, at 727-322-0800 ext. 2109 or lnashmiller@academyprep.org

EVENT MEDIA CONTACTS

Friends of AWA
Michelle Smith
813.415.1116
Michelle.smith@bergcommsglobal.com

Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg
Sarah McDonald
727.204.1391
smcdonald@academyprep.org