PROGRAMMING UPDATES
Growth and consistency. Two words that are at the forefront of my reflections of the school year as we prepare to close out in May. This year has been filled with meaningful learning, connections, curiosity, enthusiasm, creative exploration and social development. Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students were met with consistent programming in aviation, maritime, and engineering which helped many students build confidence in their schoolwork, participate in a wide range of enrichment activities and encouraged creativity, collaboration and problem solving skills. One of the highlights of the year was seeing students form stronger friendships and develop a sense of community in a year of overcoming challenges.
Today, we celebrate many milestones like the development of the United States Drone Soccer team at Davis A&M which secured their spot in the championships being hosted at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after a second place win in Dayton, Ohio in March. The team of six students, led by Argonauts Partner Relations Manager, Devon Sheehy, has worked hard and practiced for many hours preparing for the competition. Their drive and determination shows that when Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students are presented with an opportunity, they take it and run with it and make it their own.
Another milestone to celebrate is the growth of the Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School skate club led by Mr. Shaheen, Davis A&M History Teacher. Started just a short two years ago, the skate club started off as a program for students to learn how to skateboard outside of the school but has since grown into a community supported by local small businesses and organizations that run summer programming teaching kids and adults how to skateboard and even build them.
As I type my letter to you, we have three graduating seniors down at Burke Lakefront Airport working with Argonauts Certified Flight Instructor, Ioannis Giagtzoglou, making repairs to our 1976 Piper Cherokee PA28-140 and performing a complete overhaul of the aircraft interior. This is just the beginning of the Airframe and Powerplant program Argonaut is developing for Davis A&M. Soon, Davis students will be able to perform maintenance on the additional aircraft that Argonaut is preparing to purchase.
In addition, 50 students have obtained an OBEC license, 65 (and counting) students are enrolled in a summer internship this season, 73 students have been served in Argonauts afterschool programming, 2 students have been enrolled in our pilot training program, 1 teacher has been enrolled in our pilot training program, and so much more.
In the coming school year, we look forward to continuing this work when the Cleveland High School of Digital Arts merges with Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School. With the merger, our mission remains, to serve all Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students and continue to build opportunities that provide a foundation of success for their journey after high school. Argonaut will continue to grow our operations and team to meet the needs of the Davis A&M students and community. We’ve begun by growing our fleet to support the yearlong programming Argonaut provides. Argonaut is meeting with our partners and building comprehensive workforce development opportunities for all grade levels. We continue to grow our presence in the air at Burke Lakefront Airport and in the lake and rivers of Cleveland.
To cap the year, we will celebrate the 6th graduating class of Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School on May 23rd at the Jacobs Pavilion. This will mark the new generation of manufacturers, engineers, pilots, mariners and more. Please help us in congratulating the Class of 2026.
With continued adventures and exploration,
Tim Hatfield, Director of Programming and Thematic Learning
Innovation in Action: Inside the Robotics Program
Governor Dewine and First Lady Dewine Visit MAGNET
Governor Dewine and Ohio’s First Lady, Mrs. Dewine, visited MAGNET (The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) earlier this year to hear about the important work taking place in Greater Cleveland that supports local manufacturers.
The Robotics team from Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School and East Technical High School had the opportunity to talk about the Cleveland FIRST Robotics initiative and how building robots has impacted the students’ lives.
FIRST Robotics Competition:
Team 8222 competed at The Buckeye Regional, hosted at the Cleveland State University Wolstein Center this past March. Rebuilt, the name and theme of this year’s game, challenged all teams to build a 115lbs industrial sized robot to be able to project multiple 5.9″ diameter balls called fuel and hand from a tower of up to 5′ tall. The Argonauts accepted the challenge and answered the call with their robot named Dale. The machine is a short robot with a maximum height of 30″ and can hold up to 52 fuel in its extendable hopper. With its black, silver and blue color scheme, it is a mighty machine that can take a hit and score fuel.
The team did not place where they wanted but they won in other aspects. The team of 16 were able to problem solve using critical thinking skills and keep the machine up and running on the field. Their team spirit shined through and their Davis pride was contagious with the entire student section cheering their home team on.
The team has another competition coming up from April 15th – April 18th at the New York Tech Valley Regional in Albany, New York.
Hands Across Borders
In 2021, two Davis students got together and developed a community service project that would provide 3-D printed prosthetic arms and hands to kids in Cleveland. After a few prototypes and displaying their design at a local STEM festival in 2022, the project gained traction with the Great Lakes Science Center and MEDAccess and turned into a global community service project providing over 60 prosthetic arms and hands. Last summer, Davis students traveled to Latacunga, Ecuador for an 11 day medical mission with the Great Lakes Science Center and MEDAccess International and it was a huge success.
This summer, 5 Davis students were invited back to another medical mission in Ibarra, Ecuador for 11 days and will be delivering more prosthetics arms and hands to kids and adults in need. This trip would not be possible without the partnership of the Great Lakes Science Center and MEDAccess International and we are happy to continue our work with their support.
Davis Students Dive Into Skills, Careers, and Summer Opportunities
Davis Students Dive into Newly Launched Swim Club
At Davis, we believe every student should be equipped with the skills to be comfortable with and in the water. This year, with this goal in mind, we’ve launched the Davis Swim Club. Club members meet up to four days a week to practice and perfect their swimming skills.
Hosted at the Cleveland State University Aquatic Center, students practice distance swimming and the ability to dive and retrieve objects. Students participate in this club for a multitude of reasons, with some working to stay physically fit and others hoping to become a lifeguard.
Regardless of their reasons for joining, Argonaut is dedicated to providing this program to our students in the years to come.
Engaging with Experts at the Cleveland Boat Show
Despite the cold and snowy weather, our students still suited up and took part in the Cleveland Boat Show. Thanks to the fine people at the Ohio Marine Trades Association, our students engaged industry maritime experts in multiple fields across Northeast Ohio and participated in one-on-one conversations with marinas and shipbuilders to learn about career opportunities.
Set Sail for Exciting Summer Internship Opportunities with Davis!
Are you ready for summer?
Davis students have a unique opportunity to work on the water and put their skills to the test through several paid internship opportunities. Students can set aboard our vessels, Flotsam and Jetsam, to help clean the harbor, or join our Marine Safety Unit 2543 to gain experience with patrol and rescue.
If these opportunities sound exciting to you or a student you know, please contact the Argonaut Team.
Training Tomorrow’s Aviators
Cleared for Takeoff: Ground School Success
Davis Ground School students have finished another year. Congratulations to the head of class, Sam Vega, for passing the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Private Pilot Knowledge exam, a critical step toward earning his Private Pilot License. Sam will start flight training as soon as the weather permits.
Argonaut’s Ground Team in Training
Keeping aircraft in top operating condition is just as valuable as learning to fly. Three of our students, Jonothan Aranda, Genesis Cruz, and Rafael Trinidad, have expressed interest in becoming aircraft mechanics. All three are working with Aviation Instructor Ioannis Giagtzoglou to upgrade engine instruments on the Argonaut Piper Cherokee.
As part of their work on Piper Cherokee, students are removing older analog mechanical devices and installing single-touchscreen instruments that display crucial information.
In addition, these students have learned to read and interpret aircraft maintenance, wiring, and mechanical manuals; build and install wiring harnesses to FAA standards; install the harnesses, program and test the new instruments; create proper maintenance log entries, update the aircraft’s weight and balance information; and file the necessary FAA documents for the upgrade— Important hands-on experience that will carry them into future careers.
This month, students have been upgrading the aircraft’s interior with new carpet, sidewalls, and seat cushions. Jonothan, Genesis, and Rafel have been accepted into Legacy Aviation Aircraft Maintenance School in Traverse City, MI, and will graduate with their FAA Airframe and Powerplant License by the end of summer 2027.
Eyes on the Sky: Latest Drone Program Updates
Eyes on the Sky: Latest Drone Program Updates
On March 3rd, NEOSTEM and the Cleveland Charge hosted a School Day event, drawing over 6,000 students for a dynamic day of learning and excitement. The students had the opportunity to witness the Charge’s impressive victory, while also diving into the world of STEM. While the event featured diverse educational experiences, from sneaker technology to the power systems behind the arena. A standout highlight was the spotlight on drones.
During the halftime show, students from Davis A&M dazzled the audience with a riveting live Drone Soccer performance. The drones zipped around the arena with agility and precision, enchanting the crowd. Our team members skillfully piloted their drones through a challenging aerial course, earning enthusiastic cheers and applause. This interactive showcase vividly demonstrated the thrilling possibilities within STEM education, igniting curiosity and inspiration among the young spectators. As the event wrapped up, the air buzzed with excitement, with many students eager to explore STEM-related activities and careers.
Drone Soccer Takes Second at District III
Regional Championship!
The Davis Drone Soccer team brought home second place at the District III Regional Championship, and we couldn’t be prouder!
For a first-ever formal outing, the team showed incredible effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship, proving they are a force to be reckoned with. Their impressive finish has earned them a well-deserved invitation to compete in Daytona Beach, FL, this May, and we can’t wait to cheer them on as they take on the next challenge.
Watch out, Daytona — the Davis Football Club is coming!