Wayne Community College’s Aviation Systems Technology program has received a $50,000 workforce development donation from the GE Aerospace Foundation.
The donation will support the costs of books, tests, and fees for 20 students in the program, and WCC Aviation Systems Technology Instructor Mike Crumpler said these costs have proven to be barriers to aspiring aircraft mechanics.
“This grant from the GE Aerospace Foundation will support our students by assisting them with these costs and removing financial barriers,” Crumpler said. “The end result will be augmented workforce growth in an area that is currently plagued with a widening gap between the number of trained, qualified mechanics needed and the number available to fill vacant positions.”
GE Aerospace and the GE Aerospace Foundation are awarding $2.3 million to a range of organizations to help build a larger skilled manufacturing workforce and create job opportunities across the United States and globally. The donations will help partners establish new programs, expand existing ones, add flexibility, and reduce costs for individuals seeking manufacturing skills.
“We are so appreciative of the investment that the GE Aerospace Foundation is willing to make in Wayne Community College’s Aviation Systems Technology program. Their support will go a long way towards enhancing the program and giving our students the support they need to reach their academic goals and to get jobs within the field of aviation maintenance,” said WCC Dean of Applied Technologies Ernie White.
The U.S. aerospace manufacturing industry has nearly four times as many new workers (15%) since the pandemic compared to manufacturing overall (4%), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, the industry faces twin challenges of strong demand and an aging workforce, with more than one-third of workers older than 55.
“Providing training opportunities and reducing barriers for workers to gain skills are key to the future of the aerospace industry,” said Christian Meisner, GE Aerospace chief human resource officer and GE Aerospace Foundation chair. “But we cannot do this urgent work alone. It will take partners like the ones GE Aerospace and the GE Foundation are awarding, and we look forward to expanding on this work to support workers and the broader industry at this critical time.”
A list of all donations can be found here.
About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of 52,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow and the future at www.geaerospace.com.
About the GE Aerospace Foundation
The GE Aerospace Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by GE Aerospace, complements the company’s purpose to “lift people up” in communities where employees live and work around the world. The Foundation’s philanthropic strategy and programs focus on engineering education, workforce development, and disaster relief. They also support GE Aerospace employees through programs such as Matching Gifts and STAR Awards. When GE Aerospace launched as an independent company in 2024, the GE Foundation was relaunched as the GE Aerospace Foundation, commencing a new chapter that builds on the successful, 100+ year legacy of the previous GE Foundation. Learn more at www.geaerospace.com/company/philanthropy.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.