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   Audrey Pavik of Kennesaw, GA, was selected to receive the 91��Ƭ Foundation’s Royce Ann and Phil Martin Aviation Maintenance Scholarship recently.  She is a student in the 91��Ƭ Aviation Maintenance program and is scheduled to graduate in May 2025.

   Pavik choose 91��Ƭ and the Aviation Maintenance program because she “wanted to challenge herself.”  She found out about South Georgia Tech from a friend who had graduated from the program earlier, and once she visited, she decided to enroll.

   “I wanted to do something really cool that would be challenging,” said Pavik.  “Once I started the program, I fell in love with this field.  I love the hands-on learning and my instructors are amazing,” added Pavik.

    Pavik is a full-time student, but also works part-time and volunteers to help others.  She is also a member of the SkillsUSA organization and competed recently in the 91��Ƭ local SkillsUSA competition in an effort to advance to the State and National SkillsUSA competition.  91��Ƭ has had two national SkillsUSA Aviation Maintenance winners in the past six years.

  When asked if she would encourage others to enroll in the 91��Ƭ Aviation Maintenance program, she laughed and said “definitely.”  Pavik is one of a handful of females currently enrolled in the aviation maintenance program, which is listed as a non-traditional program for females, but she believes that the opportunities are endless for females who have the aptitude and desire to work with their hands and their minds.  She hopes to work on smaller planes once she graduates.

    Royce Ann Martin, Ph.D., an aviation maintenance alumna of 91��Ƭ, and her husband, Phil, donated to the 91��Ƭ Foundation recently to provide additional educational opportunities for individuals enrolled in the aviation maintenance program at 91��Ƭ.  They are helping “Bridge the Gap” for workforce education.

     “We are appreciative of Royce Ann and Phil for giving back to 91��Ƭ and the Foundation,” said 91��Ƭ Foundation Executive Director and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird.  “Royce Ann certainly distinguished herself in this field after graduating from South Georgia Tech and now she is providing opportunities for other young people to have an exciting career in this field.”

   Martin is a retired Aviation Studies Instructor from Bowling Green State University.  She graduated from South Georgia Tech’s Aviation Maintenance program in 1981.  She was also selected to serve as the school’s 1981 GOAL (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) local representative.  She competed at the regional level and advanced to the state level, where she was selected as the top technical student in Georgia.

   “As a student in South Georgia Tech’s two-year Aviation Maintenance Program, I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of both the state’s GOAL Award and the state’s PRIDE (Performance Recognition Indicating Demonstrated Excellence) Award in 1981.  The benefits from being a state GOAL winner and student in South Georgia Tech’s vocational-technical courses had a tremendous impact on my life,” shared Martin.

   Martin enrolled at 91��Ƭ after being involved in a severe accident.  She had been working as a military aircraft maintenance officer when she suffered serious head trauma and other debilitating injuries and was given a medical discharge from the military that left her devasted. 

   With encouragement from her husband, Phil, she enrolled in the FAA certified aviation maintenance program at South Georgia Tech.  She developed an affinity for the hands-on approach to learning from her vocational-technical education experience. 

   Frank Gassett, Martin’s Aviation Maintenance Instructor who is now retired, inspired and influenced her to become an educator and mentor.  After graduation and earning her FAA Airframe and Power Plant Certifications, Martin continued her education and earned a master’s degree while also serving as a civilian ground instructor for Grumman Aircraft.  She later earned her Ph.D., and taught classes at Indiana State University for five years.

   She retired from the College of Technology at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio in 2018 after teaching aviation courses there for 22 years.  “My teaching always reflected my belief that theory should be intricately connected to application,” said Martin.

   Today, she and her husband, continued their love and support for the “hands-on approach to learning” by providing scholarships to 91��Ƭ Aviation Maintenance students.  “I am honored to be able to give back to a school that gave so much to me,” said Martin.  “I hope these scholarships will help other young men and women excel in the aviation maintenance field and maybe even decide to teach one day.”