OAKLAND, NJ -- Paragon Federal Credit Union's Aero Club, a program that uses remote controlled model airplanes to foster student interest in science, takes off again on May 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Valley Middle School in Oakland. Former WOR Radio host George Meade, a member of the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame, will be in attendance to support the program, which is quickly gaining popularity among school districts in New Jersey.
"Innovative programs like Paragon Federal Credit Union's Aero Club are changing the way mathematics and science are taught because they inspire children to learn through hands-on demonstrations in addition to textbooks, lectures and slides," says Tony Kemps, Ramsey Board of Education Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Technology Education Department Supervisor.
Founded by Paragon Federal Credit Union's chief executive officer Richard Rays, an avid aviator himself, the Aero Club inspires a child's interest in science by allowing them to build and fly remote-controlled model airplanes. The process gives educators a plethora of opportunities to introduce flight-related concepts from physics, engineering, and mathematics.
"Paragon Federal Credit Union, founded by Bergen County teachers in 1936, has long been a supporter of educators in their tireless efforts to best prepare our children for life in a fast-paced, digital and knowledge-based world. We believe that Paragon's Aero Club program has all of the components for children to learn in a real-world context," says Rays. "Our nation's prosperity and our well-being are tied directly to our achievements in advanced technology, science and math. By getting our students excited through a hands-on demonstration of aeronautics, our hope is that they will gravitate toward understanding the laws of science."
Paragon's Aero Club program consists of lessons, beginning with a seminar on flight technique, basic plane construction, and hands-on flight training during an outdoor 'fly-in.'
For more information visit www.paragonfcu.org.
