KIPP LA Prep alumnus Justin Legaspi (left) and KIPP Scholar alumnus Ethan Cameros (right)
This summer, three KIPP SoCal high school alumni traded their classrooms for an aircraft carrier in Pensacola, Florida, thanks to the generosity of Delta Air Lines.
Ethan from KIPP Scholar, Justin from KIPP LA Prep, and Julianna from KIPP Adelante each received a scholarship to attend the National Flight Academy (NFA). This weeklong summer camp is designed to spark curiosity and build leadership skills, offering one of the most immersive STEM experiences in the country.
Ethan (left), Justin (center), and Julianna (right), along with their chaperones, get ready to board the Delta flight to Pensacola
Inside a simulated aircraft carrier, students from across the country explored aviation, aerospace, and technology through hands-on missions that challenged them to think critically, collaborate, and dream bigger about their futures in STEM.
For our KIPP SoCal alumni, the experience was nothing short of transformative. Check out what two of our scholarship recipients had to say about their NFA experience:
Ethan Cameros
KIPP Scholar Alumnus | Class of 2027
"The NFA program provided me with an experience I never thought I would have. It ignited a newfound career interest in aviation that I didn’t know I possessed. Through this program, I made friends from all over the United States, and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity. My favorite part was flying and landing drones during simulations, which made me think that maybe I could become a pilot one day. I also learned a lot about planning missions and enjoyed successfully completing them. Thank you to everyone who made this experience possible for me."
Justin Legaspi
KIPP LA Prep Alumnus | Class of 2028
"My favorite part of the program was when I entered into a radar station room we call the JIG. The JIG worked as a commanding center, essentially directing planes to their assigned destination through headsets. I enjoyed learning how to guide my plane towards its destination by using a pencil to communicate how far away they were. It definitely created some tense moments but it also made good memories, even if sometimes my pilot would crash into the water by accident."
While Ethan, Justin, and Julianna each left with unique memories, they all gained something more significant: the confidence to envision new career paths in STEM and aviation, potentially one day with Delta Air Lines.
We are deeply grateful to Delta Air Lines for making this opportunity possible. By investing in experiences like NFA, Delta is helping KIPP SoCal students take flight into bright futures.
From summer programs to scholarships like this, our KIPP Forward team works hand-in-hand with families to open doors for our KIPPsters. Reach out at kippforward@kippsocal.org to see how we can support your child’s journey, and follow them on Instagram @kippforward_la or @kippforward_sd to stay in the loop.