A team from Republic Airways visited Delaware State University aviation students on Wednesday, bringing a $30,000 gift for the program. 

Photo Caption: A team from Republic Airways presents a $30,000 check to the Aviation Program at Delaware State University. Left to right: Delaware State student Raysean McKoy; Delaware State Student Jermaine Morris; Aviation Program Director Lt. Col (ret.) Michael Hales; Assistant Vice President of Development, Delaware State University, LaShawne Pryor; Darrell Morton, Senior Manager, Education, Republic Airways; Republic Pilot Shavana Jones; Republic Pilot Maurice Ellis;  Republic Pilot Jay Shah; Republic Recruiter Jailah Long; Simone Williams, Republic Recruiter.  

More than 20 Delaware State aviation graduates are currently pilots at the regional airlines based in Indianapolis, IN, said Darrell Morton, Senior Manager of Educational Programs for the airlines.   

“In an industry dominated by white males, what we want to do is demonstrate that there is a way into this industry and inspire the next generation of pilots,” he said. “We have had a lot of success in getting pilots from Delaware State, so it’s natural to continue to strengthen the partnership.” 

Funds will be used for mobile flight simulators and to offset fees and book costs for students, said Lt. Col. (ret) Michael Hales, director of the aviation program. “This helps us make it easier for us to get students to a place where the airlines can hire them,” he said. 

Col. Hales said the mobile simulators will be used by students and taken to events and shows that he attends, to recruit students to the aviation program.  

Hales said Republic and other regional airlines try to attract graduates and word of mouth among students has led to the high number of graduates going to Republic.  

Recent Delaware State graduates Maurice Ellis and Jay Shah, now pilots for Republic, said they like to keep track of the progress of students at their alma mater and come back to speak with them about working as a pilot.