EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A new year-round program in El Paso is aiming to help more young women turn an interest in science into careers in aviation and aerospace, fields where women remain significantly underrepresented.
The MountainStar Sports Group (MSSG) Amigo Airsho announced the official launch of the “HUNT Curiosity Soars” Fly HIGHER Girls STEAM Academy, an initiative that will offer monthly programming, hands-on activities, and mentorship opportunities with community partners.
According to Amigo Airsho, the program is designed to give students real-world insight into the aviation and aerospace industries.
Women currently hold only 9.6% of all pilot positions in the United States, according to 2024 reports by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the highest professional level, women hold just 5.5% of Airline Transport Pilot certificates.
Fly HIGHER is intended to address that gap by helping students explore career pathways in the industry.
The founding members cohort, made up of students from the Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the Young Women’s STEAM Academy, recently took part in an immersion experience at the El Paso International Airport through a partnership with airport staff and leadership.
During the behind-the-scenes visit, students got a look at equipment and operations that support aviation, including NASA’s Super Guppy aircraft and the airport’s Checked Baggage Inspection System.
They also had an opportunity to meet pilots and technicians at El Paso Aero and Atlantic Aviation.
“The Fly HIGHER STEAM Academy has ignited inspiration, confidence, and ambition in our students,” said Malinda Villalobos, principal at Young Women’s Leadership Academy. “Ysleta Young Women’s Leadership Academy is proud to be part of this initiative and looks forward to the continued impact it will have on both current and future students as they rise, lead, and soar.”
“At Young Women’s STEAM Academy, we are committed to empowering young women to lead and excel, and the Fly HIGHER program aligns perfectly with that mission,” said Dr. Cynthia Ontiveros, the school’s executive principal. “This experience reinforced their confidence and expanded their vision for what is possible.”
Organizers said the initiative is supported by community leaders who see youth investment as key to the economic future of the Borderplex. HUNT Companies is providing resources and hands-on learning support to help sustain the program.
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