Waving the Western Flag: Claire Holloway immerses herself into Aviation and WMU culture
If the adage that it takes a village to raise a child is true, to Claire Holloway, the same perspective applies to the training of the next generation of aviation professionals.
Holloway, now a junior majoring in flight science in the WMU College of Aviation, has sampled some of the opportunities a comprehensive university offers in preparing enrollees for future careers.
Check out this resume for the budding aviation professional -- a year as a member of the renowned Bronco Marching Band and now as a peer educator at Western's Sindecuse Health Center.
"I really like the people at the College of Aviation," says the 2022 graduate of Briar Woods High School in Ashbun, Va., located about an hour's drive from the nation's capital in Washington. "Everybody is very accepting and supportive. They're willing to work with you and help, no matter the situation. I generally feel accepted into this industry.
"I also appreciate all of the events that happen around the college campus," Holloway says. "The program brings in representatives of companies such as Delta, SkyWest and Flexjet -- whether that is part of a class or included in a special event."
Holloway's path into the industry is not too far off from those who have gone before her. An uncle worked for JetBlue Airways Corp., an airline with corporate offices in Long Island, Utah and Florida. A grandfather was a cargo pilot. In high school, she got close to her future profession by taking a class in aerospace engineering.
Well into her junior year in high school, Holloway was still a bit fuzzy about her future choices. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do for college," she says. "My mom knew that I loved to drive so she suggested that I try flying. I did a discovery flight at my local airport and I fell in love with the experience. I wanted to be a pilot." Her aerospace-engineering instructor offered some guidance in a search of prospective aviation programs and "what looked right for me."
With mom at her side, the duo began researching aviation programs in the higher-education realm. They gave serious consideration to what was offered at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and Averett University, a 1,900-student, Baptist-affiliated entity located in Danville, Va.
Then the WMU College of Aviation appeared on their radar and the search was over. Advertised as one of the top programs of its kind in the nation, the college gained a Virginia-based student when Holloway and her mother visited the campus. "I fell in love with the school," she says. "It turned out to be an easy decision for me."
Once on the Kalamazoo campus as a freshman, Holloway quickly became immersed in college activities. A band participant in high school, she wanted to try that at Western's level. "I auditioned to be a color guard member of the Bronco Marching Band and was chosen. I also had to audition for the rifle line and made that."
Next came her current stint as a peer educator at Sindecuse. "My responsibilities include implementing and facilitating events on campus," she says. "I introduce students to the concepts of a healthier living style and help stage events and workshops. I was introduced to what Sindecuse has to offer at a tabling event. I really enjoyed the conversation and learned what it had to offer. So I gave it a shot and I'm glad I did."
Closer to her chosen profession was serving as a customer-service representative at a fixed-base operator in her home state of Virginia. Among her duties were scheduling aircraft and rental cars.
Nearing her senior year at the college, Holloway has fond memories of her coursework with Bill Feenstra's lab class in aircraft systems right at the top. He's the college's director of information technology and simulation technology. A close second is Ryan Snoeyink's class in aerodynamics and performance.
"I enjoyed their style of teaching," she says. "I also loved the interactive 3D models of the systems. I had fun in those classes, and since I enjoyed them, I had an easier time grasping the concepts."
Outside of her major Holloway believes she gained valuable insights when she completed an introductory class in social work. "It was really interesting to learn about human behaviors and the brain."
She believes that these perspectives will help in the next phase of her training.
"I think that I am going to really enjoy becoming a certified flight instructor," she says. "In the past, I've enjoyed teaching and being in leadership positions. I am looking forward to that."