Dozens of students from seven local high schools learned about the plane and car industry on Wednesday September 22, 2021, at an open house at SIU's Transportation Education Center.
Associate Professor Karen Johnson with Aviation Technologies says the idea came from an outreach grant.
"And part of that grant was to develop an advisory board with industry and local high schools to building pipelines from high school through college to industry."
Waiting for his turn at the flight simulator, Vienna High School Junior Kaden Vaugn says his goal is to be a pilot.
"I have only been in a big airplane. I am interested in flying them."
The students also learned how to use a computer to diagnose an engine problem on a $100,000 dollar semi truck, and learned about the latest advances in all electric vehicles.
