Cleveland High School’s Aviation Program has been selected to receive a $22,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Aeronautics Division as part of the 2025 Aviation Education Grant cycle.
The funding will support introductory and training flights for students, expanding access to immersive, real-world experiences in the aviation field and helping prepare future pilots, engineers, and aerospace professionals.
“This grant is a game changer for our students,” said Cleveland High School Principal Bob Pritchard. “Aviation is a career path that ignites passion and purpose, and this investment helps us bring those possibilities within reach for more young people. We’re grateful to TDOT Aeronautics for believing in what we’re building here at Cleveland High.”
Jeffrey Garrett, who leads the aviation program at CHS, added, “This opportunity allows students to go beyond the classroom and into the cockpit. For many of them, this will be their first time in the air—and that kind of experience can inspire a lifelong passion and even a career in aviation. We’re thrilled to take this next step.”
The aviation program is one of dozens of innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings at CHS, designed to equip students with the skills, certifications, and confidence they need to soar into high-demand fields. With this new grant, students will take to the skies—some for the very first time—bringing classroom learning to life in ways that are both thrilling and transformative.