Monthly Mission Control

Dear AAHS Families,

Across the decades, October has been a month of remarkable firsts in flight, space, and technology. Each of these milestones began with someone who was curious, persistent, and willing to keep learning after a setback, the very qualities we see growing in our Champions every day.

In aviation, Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager became the first pilot to fly faster than the speed of sound on October 14, 1947, even though he had cracked two ribs just days before the flight. Seven years later, on October 27, 1954, Tuskegee Airmen commander Benjamin O. Davis Jr. became the first African American general in the United States Air Force, after enduring years of isolation as a cadet at West Point. Both men remind our Champions that courage and preparation can carry us past pain, doubt, and the low expectations of others.

In aerospace, the launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957 opened the Space Age, and the rocket team in Huntsville answered by launching America's first satellite only months later. NASA opened its doors on October 1, 1958, and on October 29, 1998, John Glenn returned to space at age 77, proving that a love of learning has no expiration date. In computer science, the first message on the network that became the internet was sent on October 29, 1969, and the system crashed after only two letters, "LO," before the team fixed it and kept going. We will also celebrate Ada Lovelace Day on October 13, honoring the mathematician who wrote what is widely considered the first computer program in 1843.

Every pioneer in these stories started out as a young person with a question, a dream, and people who believed in them. Our Champions have all three, and they have you. We encourage you to ask your student this month about a time they kept going when something did not work the first time, because that persistence is exactly how history is made. Thank you for your partnership and for the confidence you place in AAHS every day.

Clear skies and tailwinds,

Ruben Morris

CEO & Founder
Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a nationwide campaign started in 2006 by the PACER Center to help schools, families, and communities stand together against bullying. At AAHS, we treat this month as an opportunity to reaffirm a simple promise to every Champion: you belong here, you are safe here, and no one in our school family flies alone.

In aviation, safety depends on the entire crew. Pilots train in a practice called crew resource management, which teaches every member of a flight crew to speak up when something looks wrong, regardless of rank or experience. Some of the most serious accidents in aviation history happened when a crew member noticed a problem and stayed silent. We want our Champions to carry that same principle into the hallway, the cafeteria, and the group chat. When a classmate is being mistreated, a true wingman speaks up, reports what they see to a trusted adult, and stands beside the person who is being targeted.

Throughout the month, our staff will lead conversations with students about kindness, respect, online behavior, and the courage it takes to be an upstander rather than a bystander. Families play an essential role in this work. We encourage you to ask your student how their friendships are going, to keep an eye on their social media and messaging activity, and to remind them that asking for help is a sign of strength. If your student shares a concern, please contact their advisor or the front office right away so that we can respond quickly and with care.

Every Champion deserves to learn in a place where they can take risks, make mistakes, and grow without fear. Our school culture is built by students and adults who choose, every single day, to lift one another up. Thank you for partnering with us to make AAHS a community where every young person is seen, valued, and ready to SOAR.

One of the most common questions I hear from families is whether flight training and aviation careers are financially within reach. They are. The industry is investing heavily in young people right now, and much of that money goes unclaimed simply because nobody applied. Below are opportunities worth a look. Please review these with your Champion, and reach out to our counseling team if you need help with essays, recommendations, or applications.

Apply Right Now

• Women in Aviation International 2027 Scholarships. More than 50 scholarships worth over $200,000 covering flight training, engineering, maintenance, drones, and career advancement. Applications close September 1, 2026, and applicants must be WAI members by August 30, 2026. This deadline is days away. Visit wai.org/scholarships.
• Epic Flight Academy High School Scholarships. The deadline to apply is October 1. Awards include a $20,000 Captain Judy Rice Pilot Scholarship, $5,000 flight training scholarships at each campus, and mechanic scholarships for high school seniors. Visit epicflightacademy.com.

Opening This Fall

• AOPA Flight Training Scholarships. Fall applications open October 1, 2026, and close December 30, 2026. This includes at least 90 scholarships of $12,000 each for students aged 16 to 18 to earn their private pilot certificate. High school students qualify for a free AOPA membership, and award decisions are announced by April 15. Visit aopa.org.
• EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship. Up to $12,000 toward flight training expenses, funded by the Ray Foundation and administered through local EAA chapters. Available to candidates 16 to 19 years old pursuing a Private Pilot or Sport Pilot certificate, and 15 to 19 for a Glider Pilot certificate. Students apply through a local chapter, so contact your nearest EAA chapter scholarship coordinator now.

Plan Ahead for Spring

• Aviation Council of Alabama. Four scholarships valued at $1,500 each for Alabama high school seniors or college students pursuing an aviation related degree, including awards for pilots, aviation management, A&P maintenance, and students from underrepresented backgrounds in aviation. Visit alairports.com/scholarships.
• AAAE Foundation Scholarships. Applications for the 2027 to 2028 cycle become available in December 2026. Visit aaae.org/foundation.
• Building Futures, Alabama Community College System. Awards of $2,000 for students in aviation mechanics, avionics, and aviation maintenance programs, with eligibility extended to high school seniors in dual enrollment who plan to continue in an approved field at an Alabama community college. Watch for the next application window in the spring.
• Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals. ACE Academy registration opens February 1 each year, with a limited number of need based scholarships and fee waivers available. OBAP also offers scholarships through its application portal, and high school students who have participated in ACE Academy, Ascension, Explore Aerospace, or Solo Flight Academy may be exempt from volunteer requirements. Visit obap.org.

A Word From Me

Do not let your Champion talk themselves out of applying. Nearly every one of these awards goes to a student who simply believed they had as much right to the opportunity as anyone else. Scholarship is one of our core values for a reason. Help your Champion sit down, write the essay, and press submit.

Dear Champion Families,

I am honored to share that our plan to merge Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School with Invictus Career Institute has received final approval from both governing boards and the Alabama Public Charter School Commission. When our doors open in fall 2027, Invictus Prep will serve students in grades 6 through 8, and Invictus Career Institute will serve students in grades 9 through 12. Together, these two schools will form one connected pathway that begins with career exploration in 6th grade and continues through credentials, college courses, and internships before graduation. The word Invictus means "unconquered," and I can think of no better description of our students and the families who stand behind them.

Our approval reflects years of faithful work by parents, students, teachers, board members, and community partners who believed that the young people of Bessemer deserve a school built around their futures. Our Champions will continue to pursue flight, aircraft maintenance, drones, aerospace engineering, and computer science. They will also gain access to new health science pathways in patient care, health informatics, and pharmacy technology, which lead to careers with strong local demand and meaningful earning potential. Every pathway is designed so that students graduate with a credential, college credit, and a clear next step toward the career of their choice.

Approval is a beginning rather than a finish line, and the most important work ahead is the work we will do together. Over the coming months, we will invite families to small group design sessions where you can help shape our schedules, student supports, and the core values that will guide our school community. We are exploring a set of values built around the word THRIVE, and we want your voice to help us decide what it should mean for every Champion who walks through our doors.

Please join us for a Town Hall Discussion on Tuesday, October 13, at 5:30PM at the school and virtually.

During the evening, we will share the details of the approved plan, walk through the journey from 6th grade to career, and answer your questions. Most importantly, we will listen to your hopes and ideas for our students. I look forward to seeing you there as we begin this next chapter together. Please check your email in the coming days for more details.

✈️HAPPY NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH! ✈️

This October, we’re celebrating Mrs. Allen, our incredible School Director! Your vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our champions keep AAHS moving forward and our Jets flying high. ✈️

Thank you for leading with purpose, supporting with heart, and always believing in our champions!

Dear AAHS Families,

Last month we shared the news that our school community is growing through the creation of Invictus Middle School and the Alabama Career Institute. Today we are excited to share the first schematic designs of our future permanent campus, prepared by CCR Architecture and Interiors. The campus will sit on 22 acres of wooded land beside the Bessemer Municipal Airport, which means our Champions will learn within sight of the very industry they are preparing to enter. The design features two academic buildings joined by a covered central courtyard, along with science labs, a computer lab, a cafeteria that can host community events, and space reserved for a future track and field.

The renderings below are early drawings rather than photographs, and the details will continue to be refined in the months ahead. Even at this stage, they tell a powerful story about where we are headed. We will keep families informed at every milestone, and we look forward to inviting families, students, and community partners into conversations about the campus as the work advances. Thank you for believing in this vision from the beginning. The best is ahead.