Pearson aviation-ed program wins grant

The Fort Vancouver National Trust has received a $5,019 grant for its Pearson Field Education Center, a STEM-based aviation education program.

It will be used to purchase model airplane and toolbox kits for teaching students metalwork and riveting skills needed to build a full-sized kit airplane.

The grant is from the Vancouver Energy Community Fund, a charitable fund at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington.

In 2016, the education center was donated a partially assembled Zenith 701CH kit airplane. Youth 12 to 20 years old who are interested in learning the skills to assemble it will be invited to finish the project.

Before starting on the Zenith 701CH airplane, students will participate in a simple sheet metal and riveting project by constructing an RV-12 model kit plane and toolbox, Garrett Schmidt, Pearson Field Education Center director, said in a news release.

The education center is seeking adult mentors to oversee the project.

For more information, visit fortvan.org/AviationEducation or call Deborah Bessette at 360-992-1815.

The Vancouver Energy Community Fund was established in 2015 by Tesoro Savage Petroleum Terminal LLC.