Dear Michael Mulligan, My name is Szymon Kasprowicz. I am currently a senior at Aviation High School located in Long Island City. Over the past few years, I’ve dedicated myself as a pupil to the aviation industry while also working to create opportunities for my peers who share the same passion. I am currently working towards obtaining four aviation licenses: Airframe, Powerplant, Private Pilot, and Part 107 Drone Operator. Academically, I am ranked in the top 5% of students in my technical shop classes. I’ve been selected for a fifth-year program and was chosen to attend the IAM Conference to represent my school. Aviation maintenance and piloting naturally overlap, and pursuing both has given me a deeper understanding of how the ins and outs of an aircraft operate. Additionally training in the cockpit as a flight school student has strengthened my technical knowledge, enhanced my decision-making skills, and given me a greater appreciation for aviation as a skill. In the past two years, I’ve served as President of our school’s Flight Club. When I first stepped into the role, the club had only five members. Since then, we’ve grown it to more than 150 active members. We introduced a Part 61 Ground School program that provides students with 16 free hours of instruction from a certified instructor, preparing them for their written exam and endorsements. In addition to classroom instruction, we maintain and fly our Redbird simulators, giving students hands-on experience with flight procedures, navigation, and aircraft systems in a realistic training environment. The club also runs a Part 107 prep program along with an Alpha Drones USA internship. Through this program, students prepare for the Part 107 written exam while gaining real-world technical experience. During the internship, we are given damaged industrial drones and are responsible for performing maintenance and repairs for Alpha Drones, allowing us to apply both our mechanical knowledge and operational training in a professional setting. Thanks to support from the school and outside sponsors, the cost of both exams is reimbursed for participating students, making these opportunities accessible to many who otherwise might not afford them. Outside of school, I’m a student pilot with Long Island Aviators and have logged 15 flight hours so far. Flying has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, but the cost of each lesson is significant and has become a financial strain on my family. My parents have been working overtime to support both our household and my education, and I’m incredibly grateful for the sacrifices they’ve made to help me pursue my dream of building a career in aviation. Recently, the CEO of Alpha Drones encouraged me to stay in contact with him after I earn my Part 61 Private Pilot License. He expressed how impressed he has been with my leadership and work ethic and mentioned a potential pathway toward the United Airlines Aviate Program. Knowing that opportunities like this may be ahead of me pushes me to keep working harder every day. It represents a real chance to achieve my future goal of flying for the airlines. I am deeply grateful for the mentors, instructors, and supporters who have helped me reach this point and continue to guide me toward my future in aviation