Taking the Next Generation from Classroom to Cockpit

A powerful regional collaboration is helping high school students take flight—literally. Monterey Bay DART, Airspace Integration, ATS AeroSystems, the Monterey Bay Institute of Art and Physics, and Monterey Bay Academy have joined forces to launch the 2025 Excellence in Aviation Scholarship, supporting young pilots in earning the flight hours required for their first solo. For many students, this milestone represents both a personal achievement and a critical step toward a career in aviation.

This year’s scholarships were awarded to Troy Bertoli and Abdiel Venegas, two standout high school students whose dedication and passion for aviation reflect the mission of the program. By helping offset the cost of early flight training, the scholarship enables recipients to focus on mastering the skills and discipline required for safe, independent flight.

The high school aviation program is hosted at Monterey Bay Academy’s coastal airfield (CA66), where students are immersed in a unique learning environment that blends academics with real-world aviation experience. Monterey Bay DART continues to advance the region in aerospace workforce development, with Airspace Integration contributing innovation and industry perspective. Together, these organizations are investing in more than just training—they’re helping launch the next generation of aviators.

About the Partners

Airspace Integration is an aerospace operations and engineering company specializing in advanced flight testing, unmanned systems integration, and next-generation air mobility technologies.

Monterey Bay DART (Drone, Automation, Robotics, and Technology) is a regional initiative focused on accelerating innovation and workforce development in aerospace, automation, robotics, and emerging technologies through cross-sector collaboration and strategic investment.

ATS AeroSystems is an aerospace technologies company, focusing on next-generation VTOL aircraft.

Monterey Bay Institute of Art and Physics (MBIAP) is an interdisciplinary nonprofit organization that fosters innovation at the intersection of science, engineering, and the arts—promoting educational outreach, creativity, and frontier research in the Monterey Bay region.

Monterey Bay Academy is a private, college-preparatory high school located on the coast of Northern California. Its aviation program, based at the on-campus airfield (CA66), provides students with hands-on flight training opportunities alongside a strong academic foundation.

Article by Art Siordia, Aerospace Engineer and UAS Test Pilot, Monterey Bay native, and advocate for aviation education and workforce development.