I am excited to write about the Fourth Annual Fly-ND Career Expo, which was held in Minot, ND, on October 5, 2023. For me, it is exciting and energizing to see students not only excited about the industry but also about the career opportunities. This year, the North Dakota Aviation Association (NDAA) was able to award $15,500 in scholarships and expose students to a variety of career fields, through presentations and exhibitors. A huge thank you to all who made this a great day for these students! 

We had some exciting presentations from industry representatives from aerial application, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), meteorology, business aviation, airlines, and the military. We also had a student panel discussing post-secondary opportunities and answering questions about their experience transitioning from high school to post secondary, as well as plans for future careers. These speakers provided excellent presentations and students had great questions for them. 

It would be impossible to fit a cross-section of the industry on stage to discuss their stories and we had a great group of exhibitors share their experiences with these students. With representation from both flying and non-flying careers, as well as UAS, I heard students telling their teacher, “I found what I want to do!” on multiple occasions. 

It is tough to contain the excitement I have for these students in a short article and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. I hope the included pictures will provide you with a sense of what the day was like. 

I do have to make a few special thank yous before I conclude:

• Thank you to the University of North Dakota for being a sponsor for the event and providing a dozen students to help with a variety of logistical tasks throughout the day. 
• Thank you to the Minot Aero Center for assistance with planning and coordination and most importantly, for keeping the students well-fed. 
• Thank you to the Dakota Territory Air Museum for being a wonderful host and finding a way to work the event, even when the weather didn’t cooperate. 
• Thank you to all of the speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors who made the event possible. Know that you are appreciated and you really made the day possible for these students. 

Mike McHugh, Aviation Education Coordinator 

North Dakota Aeronautics Commission

701-328-9650 | mmchugh@nd.gov