I was born in a small town in California, and ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by airplanes. I didn’t know anyone in aviation, so I had to find my own way into that world. It wasn’t easy, but I was fortunate to have people willing to help me.

Now I want to make aviation more accessible for others — especially for teenagers who might think flying is out of reach. I founded a nonprofit that gives high school students in the Michiana area the chance to build real airplanes from the ground up. We currently have two planes under construction, one in Elkhart and another in Goshen, and every bolt, every rivet is placed by the students themselves.

One of our goals is to break the idea that aviation is only for a few — for those with money, connections, or special skills. It’s not. It’s for anyone willing to learn, work hard, and dream big.