b'COMMUNITY RELATIONSSRQ 59Reimann recalls bringing her daughters to work with her in the 1990s, when she was at Dulles International Airport. It was huge deal for them. They loved the experience, she recalls. When I got this position, I thought it was important we do that here.The first such event at SRQ drew 17 children of Airport Authority workers, ages 6 to 18. This past April, 28 children, ages 5 to 19, came to work at the airport with parents. Many airport departmentsA new middle/high school is scheduledto open adjacent to the airport this fall. got involved to make the day a success; aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF), Airport Police Department, Humancommercial airplanes before, seeing aAirport workers who accompanied their Resources, Facilities, Engineering,corporate jet up close was a highlightchildren for part or all of program learned Purchasing and Properties all played of the day, says Diane M. Drakulich,something as well. Drakulich notes that a part. property leasing manager for Sarasotathe day was a noticeable morale boost Always working to enhance the lineup,Manatee Airport Authority.for employees because they gained an SRQ Properties enlisted the participationOther activities included a tour of theappreciation for how vital the airport of two airport tenants for this years event:ARFF facility, where participants boardedtenantsand their roleis to the aviation Unipak Aviation, a privately owned repaira fire truck and had the chance to testcommunity. Susan [Reimann] and I station specializing in maintenance, repairtheir aim with a firereceived so many emails from the parents and overhaul services, manufacturing andhose. A visit to thewho were there with their children and aircraft on ground services; and BocaARFF maintenancethe excitement they felt afterwards, she Aircraft Maintenance, which providesfacility provided anremarks.maintenance and general services foropportunity to climb FAR 135 air carriers, corporate andaboard more heavyYear-Round Education personal aircraft. machineryalwaysPartnershipa popular part of DIANE M. DRAKULICH Airport officials hope the Team Success Donuts, Pizza and Hands-Onthe day.after-school aviation program will generate Activities similar excitement. Jake Loomis, Social The 2024 event started with breakfastBroadening Horizons Studies Department chair and director of provided by HMSHost and welcomeThe annual event gives young participantsthe after-school aviation program, explains remarks from SRQ President and Chiefa better perspective of what really goesthat Team Success is a Title I school that Executive Officer Fredrick J. Piccolo.on at an airport, and introduces them tois federally funded and focuses on raising Each child also received a T-shirt and ana wide range of careers they might notthe achievement level of children from low-official-looking airport access badge. Afterotherwise know about.income households.breakfast, they headed to the Airport PoliceMost people think when you comeIt opened in 2010 exclusively for Station and Airport Operations for a tour.to an airport, you have pilots, flightkindergarten through fifth-grade students The children were then shuttled toattendants, ticket counter workers andbut later expanded to include middle and Unipak Aviation for a tour and to Bocapeople moving bags on a ramp. Therehigh school as well. Enrollment has grown Aircraft Maintenance, where they ateis so much more than that, Reimannsteadily to about 1,200.againthis time, donuts, water andemphasizes. I dont think people realizeWhen Team Success was looking soda. (In retrospect, event organizersthat we are like a small city. We havefor a site to build a new campus for realize they need to coordinate food planselectricians and plumbers and our owngrades six through 12, a vacant 15-acre better next year, but the children certainlyfire and police departments. We have airparcel adjacent to the airport seemed enjoyed the extra treats.)traffic controllers in the tower and peoplelike a good fit. The Airport Authority and At the Boca Aircraft Maintenanceworking on communications. [Take YourTeam Success at SRQ reached a lease hangar, participants got to board aChild to Work Day] opens young peoplesagreement in 2020, and the school is Learjet. They also got to check outeyes to all the things that happen at anscheduled to open this fall with about 600 its engines, which they had seenairport and gives them a good idea aboutstudents. components of earlier at Unipak Aviation.all the career opportunities associatedWhen the Airport Authority sent the While some of the kids had been onwith aviation. lease agreement to FAA, the agency AirportImprovement.comJuly | August 2024'