 It was Nelson Mandela who said education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Perhaps now more than ever, that adage holds true, as the United States is depending on a well-trained workforce to help lead the country out of the economic crisis. In order to get the job skills and education needed to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy, more and more students are seeking out universities that offer experiential hands-on learning at an affordable tuition that prepares a graduate for a productive life. The responsibilities of colleges and universities that serve a region is first to assist students in pursuing their aspirations to help them to explore and mold their dreams and then prepare academically and personally to achieve them. They also have the responsibility for producing the region's intellectual capital. That helps to determine the region's economic status, the standard of living, and the profile for a better way of life. One of the greatest American examples of how education can promote economic, social, and environmental progress and revitalize an area is happening here across 220 acres in northeastern North Carolina. Elizabeth City State University is celebrating 125 years of producing graduates for leadership roles and lifelong learning. As we move forward, Elizabeth City State University is creating the ultimate educational experience. With our signature programs, our small class sizes, our distinguished faculty, and in a community that's engaged as a test bed for ideas and all in a family-like atmosphere, Elizabeth City State University is a place where each student can find their path to change the future. It's the ultimate environment for exploration, nurturing, developing, and even validating ideas. Located just 50 miles from Kitty Hawk, the site of the Wright Brothers' first flight, ECSU is the only four-year institution in the state of North Carolina offering an aviation degree program. With many specializations and areas relevant to the highly competitive aerospace and aviation industry, the Aviation Science program at ECSU produces highly competent professionals, arming them with the necessary knowledge and abilities required to compete in the rapidly changing aviation and aerospace industry. Students coming in aviation science program have opportunities to choose options depending upon their area of interest, so they can choose from flight education, professional pilot tracks, they could take aviation management, air traffic control, and aviation electronics. The cost of flight training at Elizabeth City State University is 50% of what students would pay if they go to any large private or public university flight training program. Our students are well placed in military with defense companies, aerospace companies, and also with the federal government such as the FAA. Just last year we had two students who got selected out of a pool of 28,000 students nationwide to go to FAA Academy and they're on their way to become federal air traffic controllers. Ever since I was a little kid I've always dreamed of saving lives and helping others through flying and I think being able to be a pilot in the Coast Guard is the best way to do that. I was fortunate enough to get selected for the Wilkes Flight Initiative, which is the guaranteed slot for flight school after officer candidate school and I happened to be the only one in the country that got picked up for that in the year 2015. It is very fulfilling to see students coming into our program, graduate from our program, go to a flight training facility with Coast Guard, come back to the base here in Elizabeth City and fly important missions with J-Hawk or Super Hercules. We're preparing aviation professionals across the board, across the industry. We are integrating scenario-based training and practical application through the use of classroom instruction and also airplane instruction. At ECSU we have a Women in Aviation chapter here on campus. This club actually helps to promote students to get involved within the industry by attending a national conference and also allowing the students an opportunity to network with aviation professionals. I love the lab, the ATC lab, that's what sold me like I have to go to this school. I think it's prepared me to have a wonderful career in aviation. It's a family environment, everyone's friendly. The professors take care of you, you get one-on-one instruction. It's basically a great place to go. Everybody in the aviation department that I've had the pleasure to work with, they've gone the extra mile to really help me get where I need to go. World-class facilities, small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and an innovative approach to learning enable ECSU to deliver an aviation science program that is both industry-led and student-focused. I'm excited to come to ECSU to share my experiences with other students in order to get them to step outside their comfort zone in order to make an impact within the aviation industry. The world is demanding graduates who have not only mastered their discipline but graduates who can function as part of a broader team, a regional team, a state team, a national team, a global team that addresses challenges in each of those realms. Learn more today about Elizabeth City State University contributing to the growing market for aviation and aerospace locally, nationally, and globally. For information on admissions or to schedule a visit, go to ecsu.edu or call 800-347-ECSU. ECSU is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina.