HBCU Day at United’s Flight Training Center

June 19, 2024

A group of United pilots and employees, as well as students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, posing for an arial picture on the stairs in front of our United Flight Training Center logo as they celebrate HBCU Day.

Last week, United’s Aviate program, Flight Training Center, People Impact, Pilot Hiring and Talent Acquisition teams along with BEACON, United’s Black Business Resource Group, hosted 45 students and several academic leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at the Denver Flight Training Center. The mission of this event was to inspire the next generation of aviators through an interactive experience with United leadership, pilots and employees.

Aviate is partnered with four HBCU campuses: Delaware State University, Hampton University, Elizabeth City State University and Texas Southern University. Eligible current and former students and instructors from these universities can apply to Aviate, and upon acceptance, receive a conditional job offer as a United First Officer.

“It’s that feeling of ‘maybe I don’t belong here’ that’s again why events like this are so beneficial, to see people that look like me, that are me, that are in the flight deck, that are achieving the careers that I aspire to be in,” said Delaware State University Student Eliana Rothwell speaking with 9 News Denver.

The event kicked off with a reception sponsored by BEACON, with United leadership DEN Hub Vice President Jonna McGrath, EWR Senior Vice President and BEACON Executive Sponsor Mike Hanna, Global Learning, People & Community Impact Vice President Helon Hammond and Alliances Managing Director and BEACON President Mika Clark Tupy welcoming the HBCU guests.

During the Uni-TED Talks, students heard from Aviate & Pilot Strategy Managing Director Mike Bonner, Houston Hub Vice President Phil Griffith, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Executive Director and former United employee Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison, LAX Base Chief Pilot and BEACON Vice President Captain Brian Jackson and special guest retired EWR Boeing 787 Captain Theresa Claiborne. The speakers focused on the importance of supporting the next generation of aviators to show them that their dreams can take flight at United. They also talked about the Aviate program, how the HBCU experience translates to leadership post-graduation, the importance of OBAP, Black pioneers in aviation and what it means to leave a legacy.

A group of United pilots and employees, as well as students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, posing for a picture in a classroom at our United Flight Training Center as they celebrate HBCU Day.

United’s People Impact team planned the next day in collaboration with BEACON, engaging students in discussions and activities with United team members and leaders from across the business. This included President Brett Hart, Executive Vice President of Human Resources Kate Gebo and keynote speaker DEN Flight Training Center Flight Evaluator M’Lis Ward who is the first Black woman captain for a major U.S. airline.

During the learning rotations, leadership panelists LAX B-737 Captain Donovan Burns, retired EWR Boeing 787 Captain Theresa Claiborne, EWR B-737 Captain Gabrielle Harding, Early Career Digital Leadership Program Associate Malachi Pankey and EWR Airport Operations Ramp Service Director Jana Washington talked about their careers and personal ambitions that keep them thriving. Aviate also conducted a career presentation to share how students can become a part of the program followed by full-motion flight simulator rides and an in-depth tour of the FTC.

Our HBCU guests and United employees enjoyed a lunchtime barbeque in the FTC courtyard with dancing, networking and an HBCU and Black Greek Organization rollcall.

The Aviate program is proud to help support such an imperative event to inspire the next generation of aviators and uplift universities that are helping students achieve their dreams.