Published: November 22, 2008 01:26 am            

Hands-on experience

blivingston@themeridianstar.com



It isn't every day where you get to play on the world's biggest video game but some young students from Southeast Lauderdale Elementary School did just that Friday morning.

And according to two U.S. Navy aviators, a few of the youngsters knew exactly what to do once they got into the cockpit.

"Several of the kids were very adept at flying the jet in the simulator," said Ensign Adam Jensen with a grin. "They jumped in there, grabbed that stick and started throwing the jet all over the sky. It was impressive and I think we have a couple of Naval aviators in the group."

The group, from Betty Campbell's first grade class, were on board NAS Meridian taking a field trip sponsored by Mary Peavy , president of Peavy Electronics headquartered in Meridian. Peavy donated a total of 12 field trips to Lauderdale County schools. The trips are designed to inspire students to stay in school and strive to make their dreams become reality.

Past classes have visited the Jackson Zoo and Museum of Natural Science, and attended shows at the MSU Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts.

In addition to flying in the simulator, the students learned about the aircraft, aviators, ready rooms, control tower and much more during their tour. Campbell said trips such as these are valuable teaching tools for the youngsters.

"It's one thing to look at a picture of an airplane but entirely different to get to see one up close and touch it," said Campbell. "These kids are really enjoying this."

Despite the cold, the students lined up so Jensen and Ensign Adrian Kellgren could show them the gear worn by aviators and the jets they fly.

"But the main message we wanted to get across to them was that in order to make it where we are today and get to work around this cool stuff, they have to stay in school and study real hard," said Jensen. "We wanted them to understand it takes commitment and dedication."

Peavy has been a national advocate of afterschool programs and education as a member of the D.C.-based Afterschool Alliance Board of Directors. She has also worked with the National Arts Council and was instrumental in making Mississippi the first state to offer the "Afterschool Is Key" car tags, which supports afterschool programs in the state.

"I feel that a child is partly a product of his or her experiences -- especially with regard to exposure to the arts, travel and education, the things that tend to expand an individual's perspective," said Peavy. "Hopefully these field trips have broadened those experiences for these children."

        

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