Habitat for Aviation team “Stickers” Tech Jam

Written By Beth White

Tech Jam, an annual career and tech expo, was once again a fantastic opportunity for Habitat for Aviation to connect with local businesses, organizations, future innovators — and give out STICKERS. It was fantastic to see our friends from Green Mountain Power, who have been gracious supporters of our mission, continuing to back our efforts to bring young women into the world of aviation. Their ongoing support plays a significant role in making our initiatives possible, and we are always grateful for their commitment to our cause.

At the event, we were excited to see Miranda, one of our Rosies, along with her classmates from the South Burlington Robotics Team. It was great to watch them engage with all the incredible technology and innovation on display, as they continue to pave the way for the next generation of tech leaders.

And, of course, we couldn't miss our friends from BETA Technologies, whose engineers, like Women Build Planes team member Rayan El-Kotob, are invaluable to Habitat for Aviation. These skilled professionals generously donate their time each Sunday, guiding, supporting, and educating our team while helping us build our airplane. Their mentorship and expertise have been crucial in shaping our apprenticeship program and providing hands-on learning experiences for the women involved. We also met some interesting folks from Collins Aerospace and we are excited to expand our connection. Tech Jam was a perfect reminder of the power of community collaboration and how these partnerships help us make a real impact.

Beth White

Education Possibilitarian, Artist, Writer, Doula, Mentor, Aviatrix, Breast Cancer Survivor, Pilot-in-Command at Habitat for Aviation


In the spring of 2022, Beth White emerged from a 10-month battle with breast cancer with an idea: to create an apprenticeship program at Franklin County State Airport where youth work alongside adult mentors servicing conventional and electric aircraft. A pilot and airplane mechanic apprentice herself, and with family roots in the trades, Habitat for Aviation provides an taxilane for world learning opportunities for youth and adults who love to work with their hands to enter the FAA’s apprenticeship certification track. Each day she puts systems in place that make real John Dewey’s philosophy that we “learn best what we live” – a deep throughline from her time at Antioch University New England and as Regional Director for Big Picture Learning. Each learning experience is grounded in relationships, relevance, and practice. In October, 2023, Habitat for Aviation launched its Women Build Planes program, where an all-female team of Modern Day Rosies is building an airplane at Franklin County Airport, in northwestern Vermont, to show folks everywhere that despite the fact that only 2.6% of airplane mechanics are female, women BUILD, FLY, and FIX airplanes.

Previous

Our Growing Library
Next

Women Can Do! Conference