Hi.
Welcome to my blog. My passion is to motivate people so they can unlock their unlimited potential and energy. By highlighting some incredible individuals and their accomplishments, I hope to add a little fuel to your fire.
Welcome to my blog. My passion is to motivate people so they can unlock their unlimited potential and energy. By highlighting some incredible individuals and their accomplishments, I hope to add a little fuel to your fire.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education plays a critical role in developing a strong United States future. By actively showing young students the excitement of a STEM career today, you are ensuring the nation's work and defense forces remain the best in the world tomorrow. Below you will find the programs that i have participated in and some of the resources I have accumulated over the years so you can use them as a launchpad to spread the good word of STEM in your community.
The Young Falcons program concept involves finding dedicated STEM volunteers and building a community which would be able to support hands-on STEM lessons on a weekly basis. The overarching goal is to provide middle school students the opportunity to experience the excitement of STEM and to learn and grow as students on a consistent basis. You can find multiple easy to implement STEM lessons for your community here.
SIA, founded by Lt Col Robert Atkins (USAF), is a great STEM initiative that aims to bring together multiple facets of STEM education. By combining a vibrant lecture series, hands on experiments (model rocket build and fly!), and industry tours, SIA engages the future workforce of the United States to get passionate about STEM career fields. You can read more about SIA here.
EAA Young Eagles
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles program offers the opportunity to introduce and inspire youth to the wonderful world of aviation. The Young Eagles program works to provide young students aged 8-17 their first ride in a general aviation airplane. EAA's extensive network of volunteer pilots and ground personnel support has provided first GA flights to over 2 million children. Find out how you can volunteer here.
I have had the chance to work with a number of other incredible organizations that contribute positively to the community. Helping others is one of the best ways to discover new passions in life, so please consider helping out local chapters of these incredible organizations in your area!
The Honor Flight Network is an incredible organization that arranges for military veterans from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War to travel and see the Memorials erected in their honor in Washington DC. A handful of times each year, together with other members of the community, officers and enlisted from Los Angeles Air Force Base will send off and welcome back these veterans at LAX in honor and in style. There are over 130 honor flight hubs across 45 states Please visit their webpage (here) to see how you can contribute to this incredible initiative.
Sometimes the sacrifices that military family members make are forgotten or overshadowed by those made by the service member themselves. Folds Of Honor intends to honor the sacrifices made by military family, particularly the children of service men and women killed in combat or training, by providing college scholarships. I was grateful to be able to fundraise for Folds of Honor in 2017 while competing in my first Half Ironman Triathlon. With a large network of fundraising and volunteering options, it is easy to give back to those that have given so much.
The Soldiers Project is dedicated to helping military service members and their families combat the hidden wounds of war by providing free, confidential counseling. This truly incredible organization has chapters in 6 states and growing, and has provided millions of dollars worth of clinical hours to service members and their loved ones. I was incredible honored to fundraise for their cause by competing in my first full-distance IronMan triathlon race in 2018.
I will be working with Ainsley’s Angels by pushing athletes in several events including the San Diego Rock & Roll marathon. Furthermore, we are fundraising this year by running my first 100 miler in August. AInsley’s Angels works to ensure everyone can experience endurance events, Ainsley’s Angels of America aims to build awareness about America’s special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life. Serving as advocates to providing education and participating as active members in local communities, we believe everyone deserves to be included.