Students, school officials officially open Winter Haven's Central Florida Aerospace Academy

Sara-Megan Walsh, The Ledger
·3 min read
Students and officials attend a ribbon-cutting for the new Central Florida Aerospace Academy-Winter Haven Senior High School at Winter Haven Regional Airport on Wednesday.
Students and officials attend a ribbon-cutting for the new Central Florida Aerospace Academy-Winter Haven Senior High School at Winter Haven Regional Airport on Wednesday.

WINTER HAVEN — Polk County and Winter Haven officials gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the grand opening of the Winter Haven High branch of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, with many promises there is more to come.

Winter Haven Senior High's aerospace program started as an elective class four years ago, teacher Brian Hughes said. The program has grown to approximately 220 students, Hughes said, is now a full-blown academy, as classes moved into portables on the south end of Winter Haven Regional Airport in March.

"It really has expanded over the last four years," said Steve Warner, community liaison for Polk County Public Schools. "It got to the point we needed a space outside the high school so the students could really dig in and get their hands dirty."

Superintendent Fred Heid said it has been his goal to replicate the high-quality, high-demand programs offered by Polk County Public Schools across the district. The CFAA-Winter Have Senior High has modeled its programs and structure after the CFAA-Kathleen, based at Lakeland Linder International Airport. Heid said the second location will give more students access to the specialized education.

"While the original CFAA is a fantastic program, it was limited in its participation because of its initial location," the superintendent said. "As we grow, and we know the Northeast portion of the school district is the fastest growing area, we wanted to assure all those students had equity of access. The distance they would have to travel would not serve as a barrier to being able to participate in a program like this.

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James Vanvakas, 17, a graduating senior, said he left Ridge Community High to attend the CFAA believing it would offer him a better opportunity. Vanvakas said there were some logistical issues with classroom space, but he's grateful the CFAA was able to help secure him a student internship at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base. There, he works on the refueling line while training with mechanics toward his certification as an airplane mechanic.

"It's exactly where I wanted to be as this helps jumpstart my career," Vanvakas said.

James Vanvakas, 17, a graduating senior, said he left Ridge Community High to attend the CFAA believing it would offer him a better opportunity. He works on the refueling line while training with mechanics toward his certification as an airplane mechanic.
James Vanvakas, 17, a graduating senior, said he left Ridge Community High to attend the CFAA believing it would offer him a better opportunity. He works on the refueling line while training with mechanics toward his certification as an airplane mechanic.

Sophomore Blake Emanuel joined CFAA program after falling in love with aerospace.

"It gives you an opportunity to have started a program instead of feeling lost in high school, trying to decide which way you want to go and what you want to do," Emanuel said. "It gives you a more direct path from being a high school student to a professional."

The City of Winter Haven reached a land-lease agreement with Polk County Public Schools in May 2022 for the space, Airport Director Alex Vacha said. The city contributed $35,000 toward design and engineering of the site's infrastructure and more than $250,000 to pay for sidewalks, parking and other improvements.

Winter Haven's CFAA opening had its challenges. Hurricane Ian caused significant delays as many electrical contractors went to help restore power and rebuild coastal communities, Hughes said. The portable classrooms went without hookups, unable to be used.

Hughes said he hopes to have about 180 ninth-graders enroll in the CFAA next year as a second teacher, Blake Riedel, has been reassigned to the program.

Sophomore Blake Emanuel said the CFAA It gives you an opportunity to have started a program instead of feeling lost in high school, trying to decide which way you want to go and what you want to do."
Sophomore Blake Emanuel said the CFAA It gives you an opportunity to have started a program instead of feeling lost in high school, trying to decide which way you want to go and what you want to do."

"Our goal really is retention," Hughes said.

Heid made a commitment Tuesday to finding the capital funds to help contribute to CFAA-Winter Haven building a permanent home on the airport.

"I don't want our students in portables out here for very long," he said. "I want to make sure they get into a quality classroom, a quality educational environment that will give them the lab facilities they can utilize to make sure the program continues to be successful."

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFL.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Students, officials open Winter Haven's aerospace academy