Columbus AFB encourages MSTI students

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Columbus Air Force Base hosted a base tour for 15 high school students in the Mississippi Summer Transportation Institute July 16. During the tour, the students learned about different ways science, technology, engineering and mathematics are applied every day in the Air Force.

"This is the eighth year that we have had a Mississippi summer transportation institute," said Doctor Dennis Truax, Miss. State University department head of civil and environmental engineering. "The camp is to give the students a feel for the careers in transportation."

Students toured the fire station, engine maintenance, control tower and RAPCON.
"It's really interesting, I liked the tour a lot," said Danielle Nance, Raymond Miss. ninth grade student. "People are really helpful and my favorite part so far is the catwalk[Control Tower]. It was interesting watching how the planes actually take off and land."
While they were touring the base, they talked to Airmen about how they apply the things that the students learn every day.

"The tour has been really good. I have learned a lot because I have never really known much about airplanes," said Daniel Layton, Gulfport Miss. ninth grade student. "I have learned a lot about what they do in the air traffic control tower, it has been a great experience."

The point of the tour for the students was to show them how they can apply their continuing education.

"The idea is that some of the kids will grow up to be pilots, aircraft mechanics, part of the military or some will be engineers in civilian life," said Truax. "Even if they don't do anything with engineering they will at least understand and support the idea of transportation."

Columbus AFB has hosted the MSTI students for a tour for the last five years.

"Columbus AFB's team has done really well at illustrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the students," said Truax. "It shows them that even if you don't go into engineering understanding mathematics and technology is key to success in life. I appreciate the job that Columbus AFB has done at reinforcing further education."