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NORMAN, OKLA. – Community leaders gathered at the University of Oklahoma’s Max Westheimer Airport on Wednesday to break ground on the site of a new facility for the Oklahoma Aviation Academy.
The academy, administered by Norman Public Schools, integrates state-of-the-art STEAM education, industry partnerships and academic standards with a focus on aviation and aerospace.
Speaking to the crowd during the groundbreaking celebration, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. said of the academy, “When you think about what takes place here, now we have a pipeline from K-12, into college, into graduate work.
“We have the No. 1 Aviation School, the No. 1 meteorology program in the world. We’re also world-class in severe storm prediction; No. 1 academic program in the world in radar...so when you think about this ecosystem, it’s not just about one component, it’s about being strategic and seeing how you lift the lives of individuals, how you lift the lives of a community, how you lift the national security for a country so you can provide peace and security for the world,” he said.
Aerospace and defense is the fastest growing industry in the state of Oklahoma. Through collaborations between the private sector, city and state government, OU and Moore Norman Technology Center, the Oklahoma Aviation Academy provides industry-connected education pathways for Oklahoma students to connect directly with higher education, career tech, and industry partners, ensuring career readiness in the high-demand areas of aviation and aerospace.
“Working with the University of Oklahoma, Moore Norman Technology Center and industry partners from both the public and private sectors helped us create this dedicated space that will benefit our students for years to come,” Justin Milner, associate superintendent and chief operating officer at Norman Public Schools, said.
Learn more about the Oklahoma Aviation Academy.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
The TSET Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) within the National Cancer Institute-Designated OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus (OUHC) has awarded four FY27 seed grants to support innovative research aimed at improving the health of Oklahomans.
The Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center (OBRC) has launched an app that gives families quick and easy access to free breastfeeding support. Called OK BF, the app brings all OBRC services together in one place and is available in English and Spanish.
University of Oklahoma undergraduate researchers earned two of the highest honors at the 31st annual Research Day at the Capitol, a statewide competition highlighting top undergraduate research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
