Tuskegee University Student Isaiah Hand Makes History And Earns First Private Pilot License From The HBCU In 80 Years
Federal funding for Tuskegee University (TU) has created a historic opportunity for one of its students.
In 2024, the HBCU received $6.7 million in federal funding to launch a flight program that would establish a bachelor’s degree in aviation science, according to AL.com. The program offers training in aerodynamics, aircraft structures and meteorology, AL.com reports. The program also incorporates hands-on education, including flight training, to prepare students for private and commercial pilot certificates.
“This program will create opportunities for young aviators who dream of spending their lives soaring through the skies — here and around the world,” Charlotte P. Morris, former president of Tuskegee University, said in a 2024 news release, according to AL.com.
The outlet also notes that the school hopes to honor and continue the excellence of the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought in World War II and made history as the first Black flying units in the U.S. military. According to the National Park Service, the Tuskegee Airmen trained at the Tuskegee Institute. More than 2,000 Black pilots were trained at the Institute from 1941-1946. The Tuskegee Institute was renamed Tuskegee University in 1985, according to TU.
TU’s aviation program currently hosts 17 students who will become the next generation of leaders in aviation, engineering and meteorology. One such student is Isaiah Hand. The first-generation college student from Florida earned a private pilot’s license. AL.com reports that Hand made history as the first pilot to secure a license at TU in the last 80 years and wants to secure a commercial pilot’s license and other certifications.
“This is exactly the kind of impact we want to have on our students,” said Tuskegee University President Mark Brown, per AL.com.
“One only has to look into his eyes to be clear about our purpose. Confident, excited, poised, and ready to tackle the most complex problems our world has to offer,” President Brown continued.
