JONATHAN ROWE | DAILY NEWS
AVIATION ACES: The Beaufort County Police Activities League celebrated a graduation of 14 local students from its FAA sponsored ACE (Aviation Career Education) Aviation Academy. The academy was part of a month-long summer program, 2015 Aviation and Water Sports STEM Summer Camp, that exposed the students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) elements of aviation and allowed the students to gain exposure to military aircraft at several state military bases, including Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and U.S. Coast Guard Station Hobucken. The students also were able to learn how to fly aircraft and logged time flying an airplane and helicopter. PAL President Al Powell, an FAA-certified flight instructor, said the academy was one of the few across the nation in operation for middle school students and was made possible through a grant from Burroughs Wellcome, as well as sponsorship and contributions from local businesses and organizations, including Grady White, Potash Corp-Aurora, the Washington Rotary Club, Lee Chevrolet of Washington, Pamlico-Tar River Foundation, NC Estuarium, Little Washington Sailing School and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, among others. The students are now participating in a two-week boating and marine program as part of the summer camp, which includes marine ecology and water STEM activities, as well as scuba diving, courtesy of sponsorship from Greenville business Blue Region Scuba and Diving. Pictured (left to right, sitting) are Beaufort County PAL Secretary Melissa Jarvis, camp lead and East Carolina University student Derrick Powell, camp assistant and ECU student Erica Edriera, (left to right, standing) Sh’Nya Ahse, PAL Treasurer Gary Robitaille, Yasmin Delgado, NaKiaya Carter, Elijah Burnette, Patriavna Bryant, Xzaivious Moore, Janessa Henry, Clevon Carter, Amiya Carter, Clinton Speights, Nicholas Jordan and PAL President Al Powell. Not pictured are Vernon Collins, Calvin Ushry, Jada Sheppard and ECU student and camp assistant Albria Whitney.