Pellissippi State Community College to launch new aviation program thanks to grant award
The Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) Grant will give the school $2 million to support the establishment of a new two-year aviation program.
Pellissippi State Community College will be introducing a new program with the Fall 2025 semester: Aviation Technology. The program has been made possible thanks to the receipt of a $2 million Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education Grant, which was established in 2019 to help develop K-12 to secondary education to employment pipelines.
According to an article on Pellissippi State Community College’s website, Patty Weaver, who serves as the school’s Vice President for External Affairs, was quoted as saying of the grant award, "This is a tremendous collaboration with the Blount Partnership that will have a significant impact on our students and local businesses alike. With a widening gap between the number of retiring aircraft mechanics and those entering the field, this partnership ensures we are responsive to the workforce needs of area businesses who are seeking skilled professionals, while providing our students with meaningful career opportunities." She added, "We are incredibly grateful for Governor Lee's support through the GIVE 3.0 Grant.”
The Aviation Technology program will be a two-year associate degree program that will place an emphasis on Aviation Maintenance Technician Training. Students who successfully complete the program will have the knowledge they need to pursue a career in Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Maintenance Technicians, including the creation and installation of electronics, mechanical systems, and aircraft structures. In order to graduate from the program, students will have to successfully take and pass the Federal Aviation Administration certification exams.
Speaking of the motivation for the grant program to help bolster the state’s workforce, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said, “The state with the workers will win every time, and that’s why workforce development has been one of my top priorities since day one. As a result, companies are choosing to invest and expand in our state, creating greater opportunity and quality of life for all Tennesseans.”
For more information about Pellissippi State Community College, visit the school’s website.