Philadelphia Aviation Project
Aviation Career Development SessionsAVIATION CAREER DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS
Inspired by the success of the Philadelphia Aviation Project’s November 7, 2024 excursion that brought high school students from several Philadelphia Community Schools to Newark Liberty International Airport, WIF, United Airlines, and the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education organized two aviation career development sessions with United Airlines personnel.
Our intent was to provide opportunities for these students to speak with aviation professionals of color and ask any and all questions about the numerous career opportunities offered in the field.
Images on this Web page are screenshots of the virtual sessions held in January and February 2025 and photos taken at the in-person session held in April 2025.
JANUARY 24, 2025
Kensington Health Sciences Academy was one of the schools that sent students to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) during the November 7, 2024 excursion.
Three young men from the group and educator Barry Williams attended the career development session organized with United Airlines personnel.
They had the opportunity to speak with Talent Development Director Kelly Tolbert (third row center in checkerboard image), Pilot Khaled Chebli, and Flight Attendant Yolanda Hughes.
Eli Prosper (organizing partner) and Lilibeth Castillo represented the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education on the call.
WIF was represented by board member Anthony Fleet (who serves as United Airlines’ Hub Communication Manager at EWR) and Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells.
JetBlue pilot Mark Lyons, who lives in the Philadelphia area, also joined the call. He formerly worked for United Airlines and shared the story of how he came to leave United and join JetBlue.
At the end of the session, City of Philadelphia Director of Operations for Community Schools Maxwell Akuamoah-Boeting expressed his excitement about the session and his anticipation of additional sessions to be organized in the wake of the November 2024 excursion.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
Frankford High School was another of the schools that sent students to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) for the November 7, 2024 excursion.
Frankford has an aviation program, so the opportunity for its students to engage with professionals in the field was invaluable for them.
Eli Prosper (organizing partner), Ester Roche-Curet, and Jacqueline Liss from the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education joined the call along with UA’s EWR Hub Communication Manager and WIF board member Anthony Fleet and WIF Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells.
United Airlines pilot Khaled Chebli and flight attendant Yolanda Hughes shared information with and answered questions posed by the sixteen (16) 9th- through 12th-grade students who attended the session.
APRIL 3, 2025
On April 3, 2025, Anthony Fleet of United Airlines and WIF board member had the opportunity to participate in the Next Step Philly College and Career Fair hosted by Community Schools in Philadelphia.
During his time there, he spoke with various high school and grade school students about what they were interested in and provided some insights and ideas into how they can pursue their next steps to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Anthony is a Philadelphia native. He is passionate about getting involved with young people helping them on their journey.
