Local students, including Allison Ragudo from St. John the Apostle Catholic School, were a focus of this year’s Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]THE INDEPENDENT NEWS
NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA — More than 6,000 students, many from Virginia Beach public schools, attended a special STEM event at the Naval Air Station Oceana on Friday, Sept. 9. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math, and displays and activities focused upon careers in those fields and learning.
One that was a hit with students was the demonstration of 3-D printing capabilities that are shared by the city schools, with Dr. Patrick Konopnicki, the director of the technical and career education office, helping explain.
“It was really cool,” said Allison Ragudo, 10, a student at St. John the Apostle Catholic School. “It can make things in 3-D and do it by itself.” She was excited to cover scientific classes at her school. “We’re going to do the sun, the earth and the moon.”
St. John the Apostle has a STEM initiative, and Carey Averill, a middle school math teacher and one of the STEM coordinators, said students loved the chance to learn and see an air show.
Student learning was not restricted only to the air show, where the Blue Angels and a number of aerial demonstrations soared. Children also had their own chances to fly.
“The school system provided a real neat air show unit,” said Sarah Sykes, who teaches fifth grade at Landstown Elementary School. “We learned about how airplanes fly.”
Students designed paper airplanes, considering variables, redesigning, and testing — all to make their work go as far as it can go.
Elizabeth Myers, 8, the daughter of a Navy pilot, gets help with a stethoscope from Hira Azher, 17, at center, and Krina Desai, 17. Both are seniors in the Health Services Academy at Bayside High School. Desai said it was fun to engage younger students. “It’s nice to see young kids interested in something so soon,” she said. “This used to be us.” [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]Alexis Green, a senior at Virginia Wesleyan College who is studying elementary education, works with students from Strawbridge Elementary School on a STEM demonstration. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]The air show included opportunities for students to experience technology in action and interact with members of the armed forces. Above, Hunter Velzis, 9, of Salem Elementary School is helped out of heavy gear by Petty Officer 3rd Class Uriel Reyes, originally from Phoenix, after completing pushups. “I can do that all day with a couple breaks for water,” Velzis said. Reyes is part of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 at Little Creek. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]A demonstration of the Virginia Beach schools 3-D printing capabilities included a creation that was fitting for the air show event. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]Hira Azher, 17, of the Virginia Beach Schools Health Services Academy shows a fifth grader how to take a pulse during the STEM event. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]The Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show brought thousands of people to the base in Virginia Beach — including local fifth graders — to watch aircraft at work from Sept. 9-11, such as these two SH-60 Seahawks above. The helicopters appear distorted because they are seen photographed through jet wash from Blue Angels’ F/A-18 Hornets, unseen in the frame, that are on the flight line in the foreground during the practice air show on Friday, Sept. 9. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]
![Local students, including Allison Ragudo from St. John the Apostle Catholic School, were a focus of this year’s Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-7-1024x682.jpg)
![Elizabeth Myers, 8, the daughter of a Navy pilot, gets help with a stethoscope from Hira Azher, 17, at center, and Krina Desai, 17. Both are seniors in the Health Services Academy at Bayside High School. Desai said it was fun to engage younger students. “It’s nice to see young kids interested in something so soon,” she said. “This used to be us.” [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-9-1024x682.jpg)
![Alexis Green, a senior at Virginia Wesleyan College who is studying elementary education, works with students from Strawbridge Elementary School on a STEM demonstration. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-3-1024x682.jpg)
![The air show included opportunities for students to experience technology in action and interact with members of the armed forces. Above, Hunter Velzis, 9, of Salem Elementary School is helped out of heavy gear by Petty Officer 3rd Class Uriel Reyes, originally from Phoenix, after completing pushups. “I can do that all day with a couple breaks for water,” Velzis said. Reyes is part of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 at Little Creek. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-5-1024x683.jpg)
![A demonstration of the Virginia Beach schools 3-D printing capabilities included a creation that was fitting for the air show event. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-6-1024x682.jpg)
![Hira Azher, 17, of the Virginia Beach Schools Health Services Academy shows a fifth grader how to take a pulse during the STEM event. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-10-1024x683.jpg)
![The Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show brought thousands of people to the base in Virginia Beach — including local fifth graders — to watch aircraft at work from Sept. 9-11, such as these two SH-60 Seahawks above. The helicopters appear distorted because they are seen photographed through jet wash from Blue Angels’ F/A-18 Hornets, unseen in the frame, that are on the flight line in the foreground during the practice air show on Friday, Sept. 9. [John-Henry Doucette/The Princess Anne Independent News]](https://princessanneindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/air-1-1-1024x682.jpg)
