Avis Aqua - The Deeper Dive - Issue IV
THE DEEPER DIVE
As we wrap up the first half of our 2025-2026 school year at Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School, there is much to celebrate as presented in this issue of Avis Aqua. Our students remain engaged in all the aerospace and maritime programming available to them. The aqua immersion programming that started the school year saw 100% participation. After school clubs and programming have nearly 40% of Davis A&M students attending. While we celebrate our successes, we must prepare for a storm on the horizon.
On Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, the Cleveland School Board voted on significant district wide changes that will impact Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School. The Building Brighter Futures initiative has been developed by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in response to forecasted financial shortfalls district wide.
The plan combines Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School and the High School for Digital Arts into a single rebranded school, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. High School. These changes will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
Once again, we find ourselves reminding our partners at the CMSD that Davis A&M programming and engagement are not defined by what resources are readily available. Our plans and strategies are developed by directly engaging students, families, staff, community partners and industry. We design solutions utilizing the collective knowledge and expertise of this Argonaut and Davis A&M network. We secure key resources from our community, state, federal and industry partners for the specific support and funding required for the defined success. We were not and still have yet to be engaged in any planning around the District’s current challenges or proposed solutions. Moreover, we are once again being asked to react to changes being imposed upon us by our partner
Argonaut was founded in 2010 (PHASTAR) to guarantee the long-term success of our Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School. This commitment requires that we fulfill our obligation to Davis A&M Students, Alumni, Families and Staff as lifelong partners, staunch allies and champions. We continue to assess the full impact of the Building Brighter Futures Plan developed by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and how it impacts our obligations.
In our ninth year of the Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School, we must acknowledge how far we have come. Our Principal, Tim Jones, has recruited and developed an incredible staff and has brought much of our vision to life. Our Argonaut and CMSD staff at Davis A&M work as one. Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School is successful because of strong leadership, committed and enthusiastic staff, and the power of Argonaut. We are in a very strong position as we consider the future. Furthermore, Davis A&M staff, Argonaut and our Board are working round the clock, exploring all options, thinking outside the box, and reaching out to all areas of expertise within our industries.
I will end this Deeper Dive as I have previously, reminding everyone that Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School WILL prevail. We will continue to be a tuition free, year-round, public high school providing support to our Cleveland students and families beyond the traditional school, beyond the school day, and beyond the four years of high school. Like the Tuskegee Airmen Legacy on which we are founded, we will continue to fight for change through action and perseverance in the face of adversity. We know our mission, and we will prevail. We are Davis A&M.
I welcome any questions, thoughts or concerns that you have. While no specific decisions or plans have been finalized by Argonaut, our commitment to Davis A&M is unwavering. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We will keep in touch.
-Drew
Avis Aqua - Programming Updates - Issue IV
PROGRAMMING UPDATES
As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on this year's success, in the hope it will give you a beacon of holiday cheer. Our mission statement clearly states, "We build adventurers through immersive learning experiences to empower their growth and talent in the aerospace and maritime fields," and we hit our mark.
This year, we were able to provide three Davis students with a Private Pilot's License, sent two students to live on a freighter for two months with Interlake Steamship, and provided 40 summer internships across the city of Cleveland, connecting students with local organizations, including United Airlines, Burke Lakefront Airport, RTA, Port of Cleveland, Goodtime III, and Magnet.
We engaged 75 students in afterschool programming, where students participated in FABLAB, Drone, Aviation, Maritime, FIRST Robotics, and Skate clubs. Each program had a unique set of projects that expanded the learning scope of each explorer. We participated in multiple community events, including the Cleveland Cavs and the Cleveland Guardians STEM events, Ingenuity Fest, and the Sturgeon Release Event with the Cleveland Metroparks. Our goal at each event was to inform the community about the exciting things happening at Davis and recruit future adventurers. We are incredibly proud of our Davis students who represented us well at every event they completely ran.
Davis is an awesome place: It's a school that allows students to freely express themselves and explore their career options in fun and innovative ways. It’s a place where everyone has an opportunity to build a pathway for themselves. A huge part of our success is the courage and support of the Davis teachers and staff. Their dedication to student growth and promoting a positive learning experience is what drives our students to leap into their interests and try new things. Argonaut is lucky to have a strong and wonderful partner in our Davis family.
We’re looking forward to 2026, as we strive to do even more and continue the mission. We hope that 2026 is kind to you and yours. As always, Argonaut and Davis open their doors to anyone willing to extend a hand in volunteering with our students.
Happy Holidays and have a Happy New Year,
Argonaut Programming Team
PREPARING FOR SUCCESS: TEAM 8222’S JOURNEY AHEAD
Team 8222, The Argonauts, have been busy preparing for the new season starting in January. The team competed at Kettering University in September. The new team captains and robot operators took their skills to the field for the first time and did a great job! The team competed again in October at the Voltage Valley Vibe Competition where the drive team sharpened their skills and strategy and earned themselves a 3rd place spot for the competition.
Team 8222 has 15 new members! Over the next several weeks, the new members of the team will be participating in a series of workshops to prepare them for the fast paced season. Workshops include strategy building, mechanical and electrical engineering, and programming and coding sessions. During the last week of the training program, they will build the 2025 Reefscape Kitbot, putting their new skills to the test.
2026 FRC Season Kick-Off:
January 10th, 11:00am-2:00pm
Great Lakes Science Center
2026 FRC Buckeye Regional (8222 will compete here)
March 18th - 21st, 8:30am - 5:00pm
Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University
2026 Miami Valley Regional
April 1st - 4th, 8:30am - 5:00pm
Cintas Center, Xavier University
2026 FRC New York Tech Valley Regional
(8222 will compete here)
April 15th - 18th, 8:30am - 5:00pm
MVP Arena
Please visit www.clevelandfirst.org for more information on these competitions.
FALL FAB LAB REPORT: CLUBS, COMPETITIONS & COMMUNITY
This fall has been an incredibly creative season in the Argonaut Fab Lab, with students exploring design, engineering, and fabrication through a wide range of hands-on projects. In Fab Club, students have been busy crafting their own jewelry, designing custom T-shirts, and engineering mini basketball hoops—each project blending art, technology, and problem-solving. Many students also used the laser cutter and 3D printers to create personalized gifts for their families, bringing thoughtful ideas to life through digital fabrication.
Fab Saturdays returned this year with a strong start, welcoming families into the lab for weekend creativity. At our first Fab Saturday of the year, families designed and created their own jewelry pieces with the help of our laser cutters. The second Fab Saturday celebrated Halloween, offering hands-on stations where students and families built wooden jack-o’-lanterns and crafted costume masks using digital design tools.
Our students also took part in the annual Pumpkin Drop, where creativity and engineering collide.
The pumpkin drop is an annual tradition at Davis A&M where students create run ways and drop pumpkins using a parachute in hopes of landing on their runway. This year, my crew earned the award for Best Runway Design with a full-scale Space Invaders arcade machine built entirely from cardboard. The project required exceptional teamwork, long hours both in and out of school, and a shared goal of building the most impressive runway display in the competition.
In October, our 11th and 12th graders attended Manufacturing Day at the Great Lakes Science Center—an annual national event that introduces students to modern manufacturing careers, technologies, and workforce pathways. During the visit, students explored interactive exhibits, met industry professionals, and learned how advanced manufacturing blends engineering, robotics, and innovation to power real-world industries. Our students also participated in hands-on demonstrations, giving them a deeper understanding of how their Fab Lab skills translate into high-demand career fields.
This year, we’re excited to launch PBIS Rewards in the Fab Lab. PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a school-wide system that recognizes and reinforces positive behaviors. To kick off the program, the top 30 students earned an exclusive Fab Lab experience where they designed and created their own custom hoodies using our vinyl cutters and heat presses. This week, PBIS students will take on a new project: crafting personalized cutting boards using our ShopBot CNC router, giving them hands-on practice with digital design and precision manufacturing. A special thank you to Mrs. Egan for helping integrate PBIS into the Fab Lab and ensuring that positive behavior leads to real, creative, skill-building experiences for our students.
The Fab Lab continues to grow as a hub for creativity, exploration, and community. With more programs ahead, we’re excited to keep expanding opportunities for students and families to design, build, and discover together.
Davis Maritime: Hands-On Learning Across the Waterfront
Charting New Waters: Davis Maritime Club Navigates Paper Charts
This Fall, members of the Davis Maritime Club took on the challenge of learning to read paper maritime charts. Understanding maritime charts is crucial and is an important foundation for any good captain. Students used their understanding of longitude and latitude to plot points with the coordinates they were provided. Students will continue to develop their skills through seamanship classes and after-school programming.
Exploring the Future: Davis Students at Great Lakes Maritime Career Day
Davis Seamanship class juniors had the opportunity to attend the Great Lakes Maritime Career Day. During their visit, students learned about a multitude of exciting careers in maritime. Students spoke to representatives from Interlake Steamship Company, the US Coast Guard, Cleveland Cliffs, and other organizations. This was an incredible opportunity for students to explore the history of the Great Lakes and learn from people in the field
2543 Student Experience
While some Davis students spent their summer working on our maritime vessels, some members of the maritime club went out on the water for two days of training. During training, club members had the opportunity to practice driving and use radar, sonar, and other tools. Training like this is one of the many ways Davis students can become water-ready if they choose to continue their journey in the maritime field.
Freshman Field Trip
During their first year at Davis, students in the Maritime Science class have the exciting opportunity to learn from local NEO partners that specialize in maritime careers. This year, students visited the Port of Cleveland and took a tour of the facilities. While there, students saw the unloading of steel coils from a container ship. Other students visited the Garret Morgan Water Treatment Plant and saw all that it takes to make Cleveland's drinking water. This spring, other students will get similar experiences at other NEO partners.
ON FINAL APPROACH: CELEBRATING STUDENT MILESTONES IN AVIATION
We’re finalizing another amazing year in Aviation, and we’re excited to share our students’ accomplishments:
We are more than halfway through the Private Pilot Ground School class. Upon completion, each student will have the opportunity to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Knowledge Exam and earn their student pilot license.
Ground School students and the 10th-grade Aviation Science class have completed their discovery flights. One of our aspiring students, DeMere, had an even more exciting experience: DeMere’s first time in an aircraft was during his discovery flight, where he got to step into the pilot’s chair and take control of the Argonaut Cherokee!
Congrats to Brady and Sam, who have each been awarded one of the flight training slots. Once Brady and Sam complete ground school, pass the FAA knowledge exam, and complete their first class FAA medical exams, they will have the opportunity to begin flight training after winter break.
Students in the Aviation Club have built 10 remote control aircraft. We are waiting for a good weather day to go to Flite Test and fly the aircraft.
A few students will soon be starting general aircraft maintenance training with our aircraft technician and inspector, Ioannis Giagtzoglou. As part of their experience, students will learn in the classroom and gain valuable knowledge and experience working on aircraft in the shop. This type of hands-on learning helps prepare them to enroll in an Airframe and Powerplant Tech school after they graduate.
Eyes on the Sky: Latest Drone Program Updates
Students Soaring Together: Davis Drone Soccer Team
At Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School, we are proud to build our innovative Drone Soccer team. This exciting program is gaining momentum, and our students are diving deep into the world of drone technology and teamwork. The Drone Soccer team is not just about competition; it’s about fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, all while having fun.
We invite other CMSD schools that are interested in joining the Drone Soccer movement. If you would like to learn more or have your school involved, please reach out to Argonaut or Devon Sheehy at dsheehy@argonaut.org.
Engineering Success: Drone Course Information
We’re thrilled to offer education for students interested in obtaining their UAS Part 107 Drone License, a certification that is increasingly valuable in today’s job market. The course will cover all necessary material to prepare students for the FAA Part 107 Exam, which is required to operate drones commercially. The course will be hands-on, engaging, and designed to give students the knowledge and confidence they need to pursue careers in drone technology, whether in the commercial, public safety, or aerospace sectors.
If you or your student is interested in any of our drone programming, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Devon Sheehy or any staff member at Argonaut. We’re excited about where these incredible opportunities take our students!
Avis Aqua – The Student Section – Issue IV
THE STUDENT SECTION
From the classroom to the community - students making their mark.
Paving Pathways: Empowering Students for the Workforce
Our work experience opportunities are fantastic ways for students to build their resumes and gain real-world exposure. We’re thrilled to share some of the updates about opportunities available to students:
We’re excited to announce the upcoming Summer Work Experience in partnership with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU). In summer 2026, we will offer multiple paid positions that provide hands-on opportunities for students to developcritical job skills, gain professional experience, and explore various career paths.
Our first cohort of Early College Early Career (ECEC) juniors is entering their senior year, nearing the end of their two-year journey. Watching their growth, professionalism, and persistence has been truly inspiring, and we’re proud to celebrate all they’ve accomplished.
Our second cohort is taking shape. We now have 13 interested juniors preparing to begin the interview phase of the program. Over the coming weeks, we’re working on preparations—polishing interview skills, building confidence, and helping them represent themselves and Davis with pride. We can’t wait to see them shine and earn their spot in this incredible opportunity.
Celebrating Our Early Collece Early Career Seniors
It’s Early College Early Career time: the time of year we recognize and support our ECEC seniors. This year’s ECEC seniors, Tristan Johnson, Meairra Jackson, Edwin Romero, God Brooks, Camille Brooks, Genesis Cruz, and Noa Bazile, are about to begin the second year of their Magnet Program.
After gaining experience with Talon Products, Olympus Aerospace, and Euclid Heating over the summer, our students will now work with these companies on Fridays and at Magnet on Wednesdays. This will help them develop professional skills that will prepare them for entering the workforce upon graduation. We are looking forward to recruiting for the second round of Juniors in the upcoming months!
There’s a lot of exciting momentum building! Let’s continue supporting our students as they take big steps toward their futures.
Davis Students in ELA Explore the Rhetorical Devices Behind Dr. King’s Powerful Words
Mason and Sheyla, students in Ms. Burks’s English Language Arts class, recently completed a compare-and-contrast essay as part of the district’s new ELA curriculum. After reading Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” they wrote analytical essays examining how King uses rhetorical devices, including charged language, repetition, parallelism, and analogies, across both texts. Through this work, students deepened their understanding of persuasive writing while strengthening their own ability to recognize and analyze powerful rhetoric.
Sheyla Ruiz SantanA ELA - 9th grade
At times we as people might question, “How did that convince me to follow along with their plans?” That could be the use of rhetorics, parallelism, charged language, and repetition. Martin Luther King Jr. used those three ideas to convince huge groups of people to rise up against injustice for African Americans everywhere. Dr. King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and the “I Have A Dream” speech both include parallelism, charged language, and repetition, but the speech deploys these three ideas more powerfully.
By analyzing the “I Have A Dream” speech and the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” it’s direct that the “I Have A Dream” speech uses parallelism better. As repeated many times during the speech, “One hundred years later" is an example of parallelism. Dr. King uses parallelism to carry the fact that even after 100 years, African Americans still didn’t have their rights. While the letter used parallelism in the form of, “When you/your…” to indicate the treatment of African Americans at the time. There’s a difference between the two which is that the letter is much weaker with staying on topic; switching between unfair treatment and segregation. By differentiating the speech to the letter, we can come to the understanding that the speech’s parallelism is more valuable than the letter.
Although both the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and the “I Have A Dream” speech use repetition it’s shown more effectively in the “I Have A Dream” speech. The speech has one of the most popular phrases, “I have a dream..,”. Dr. King changed America due to his want for equal rights for everyone using just those four words. On the other hand, the letter uses, “If you were to watch…” as its form of repetition. Dr. King used that to highlight police cruelty against African Americans. Despite the fact that both the letter and the speech uses repetition, the speech applies it more powerfully.
A quick comparison between the “I Have A Dream” speech and the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” reveals that charged language is better used in the speech than the letter. In the speech, “This momentous decree is a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice.” Dr. King backs up his arguments withstrong phrases, which is a perfect use of charged language. Using words like “grossly” and “ugly” would be another use of charged language. While the letter and the speech criticize African American treatment, the speech delivers a more powerful and stronger message with charged language.
In conclusion, both the “I Have A Dream” speech and the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” use parallelism, charged language, and repetition, but the speech uses all three better. The phrase in the speech “One hundred years…” uses the first appeal, parallelism, to explain that African Americans are still not free. The letter uses repetition to only talk about one race, while the speech talks about all. Charged language from the letter is influential, yet the speech calls to step towards action. The “I Have A Dream” speech uses rhetorical applications better, but the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” is still a very powerful letter.
MASON WESTWOOD ELA - 9TH GRADE
Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth”, this was Abraham Lincoln’s speech in the “ 1863 Gettysburg Speech”, this makes you question how are these speeches so powerful?, let’s use the famous Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “ I Have a Dream Speech” as a compare and contrast representation. Listeners and readers don’t usually see the powerful and determined messages when rhetorical devices are specifically used in speeches, and even most of the time, they miss the main target points that the speaker is trying to convey and take action on. Rhetorical devices were used in Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the famous “ I Have a Dream Speech”, but the “ I Have a Dream Speech” uses rhetorical devices more effectively.
The rhetorical device of parallelism was used in Martin Luther King, Jr’s “ Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the “ I Have a Dream Speech”. But using parallelism techniques in the “ I Have a Dream Speech” brings a more powerful, unstoppable build of emotions to create constant rhythms. For instance, “ A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God;, an unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law” is used in paragraph 16.
It can be concluded that a just law is one that aligns with more law, and or the law of God, while an unjust law contradicts it, and an unjust law is not a true law. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” doesn’t send a direct message and is not as powerful as the “ I Have a Dream Speech”. An additional piece of evidence in the “ I Have a Dream Speech” is the parallelism of “ I Have a Dream That” used by king in paragraph 17.
In this piece of evidence, he emphasized a more directly valued view in a more understandable way than “ Letter from Birmingham Jail” for America to be a better and more peaceful place without segregation or discrimination, to move ahead in a society where segregation and undeniable laws are no more. To summarize things, parallelism in “ I Have a Dream Speech” uses more strong emotional grammatical phrases to build rhythm, climax, and importance to move forward in a society where justice is for ALL.
Another rhetorical device repetition was used in Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter fromBirmingham Jail” and the “I Have a Dream Speech”, but although “ The Letter fromBirmingham Jail” is still emotional and persuasive, on the other hand “ I Have a Dream Speech”carries out repetition after repetition in a constant flow allowing for build up, as well adding more feeling and persuasiveness for all. For instance, in “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” the repeated repetition of “ I have” in paragraph 37. As a result, this shows that even though “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is still powerful and directs in its own way, it does not dominate theuseful repetition used in the other speech. The author states in “ I Have a Dream the repeated repetition “One Hundred Years later” used in paragraph 3. This shows the quote uses a voice of power and determination in order to bring segregation to a stop. Overall, “ I Have a Dream Speech” uses repetition in a more determined, powerful way to build emotional momentum and to unite under one to overcome many.
The final rhetorical device charged language was used in Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the “ I Have a Dream Speech”, but in the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, King used charged language to put an immediate call to action in many people’s minds as well, putting a vivid image upon them therefore, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” represents a better alternative. For example, “ I Have a Dream Speech”, “The manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination”. This shows the quote evokes images of slavery into people’s minds, despite the Emancipation Proclamation 100 years prior, African Americans were not free, but it does not top the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Another example is in “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” “ But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your fathers and mothers at will and drown your brother and sisters at whim,” said in paragraph 14. As a result, King aims to provide detail to show the audience the harsh realities of racial hatred and oppression to the urgency of the Civil Rights movement, proving “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to be the most effective for the rhetorical device of charged language. To summarize, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” provides a detailed explanation of racial hatred and oppression, then pushes for people to come together and rise above the harsh realities of segregation and discrimination.
In conclusion, all of these rhetorical devices were used in Martin Luther King, Jr’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail" and the “ I Have a Dream Speech,” but “ I Have a Dream” uses rhetorical devices more effectively. Parallelism, charged language, and repetition are used beneficially, but the speech uses them more effectively. “One Hundred Years Ago" is an exemplary quote used by King to build more power and put rhythm into his speech, using one of these devices as well to overall persuade the audience using these said devices. Rhetorical devices are employed in many speeches to make communication more persuasive, memorable, and impactful while building rhythms and emotions along the way, while also connecting to the audience for additional buildup.
Avis Aqua - The Dispatch - Issue IV
THE DISPATCH
Your hub for everything happening at Davis and Argonaut.
SKATE CULTURE MEETS THE ARGONAUT CREW
The Davis Skate Club took a field trip to the Argonaut HQ to continue skateboarding, despite the wintery Cleveland months. Davis Skate Club brought over their modular skatepark to test out their skills on some of the student-made ramps. Students got the opportunity to help build, design, and construct the ramps with community partners and these ramps were used throughout the summer to provide lessons at the North Coast Yard and beyond. The Davis Skate Club capped off its first session with a pizza party to celebrate!
City club welcomes davis students
As part of our regular attendance at the City Club of Cleveland luncheons, thirteen Davis A&M students attended a presentation about Quantum Computing in Healthcare. The panel included representatives from IBM and the Cleveland Clinic, who described the IBM Quantum System One, which is deployed at the Cleveland Clinic. The students all went into the event with a basic understanding of this complex topic and asked thoughtful questions of the panel.
PORT OF CLEVELAND WELCOMES
DAVIS STUDENTS
As part of a trip to the Port of Cleveland, students spoke with Jared Magyar, Vice President of Operations, and Rick Edberg, Industrial Fleet & Operations Manager. Both provided incredible insights into the important work and various career opportunities at the Port.
It was an amazing opportunity for students to get first-hand knowledge about the daily duties and responsibilities.Thank you, Port of Cleveland, for welcoming our students and being such a valued partner!
Argonaut Launches New Captain Training Course to Address Regional Safety Needs
This year, the U.S. Coast Guard held a Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA) with local waterfront stakeholders to identify major risk factors and develop solutions. One of the most significant concerns that emerged was a shortage of high-quality, safety-minded captains operating in the region. Representing Argonaut, Captain Ferguson and Captain Kit participated in the PAWSA sessions. Although we had already been developing a plan to offer a captain training course, the findings served as a clear call-to-action. We needed to address the shortage and strengthen maritime safety across the community.
After searching nationwide for programs to partner with and following an extensive review process, we selected Practical Navigator Training, led by Capt. Christopher Nolan. Together, we launched a hybrid-format captains class designed to meet all required education and testing standards for OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) through 100 Ton Master licenses. Students can also earn Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing endorsements, further expanding their professional credentials.
The course combines online modules taught by Capt. Nolan, with in-person study sessions held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Argonaut, facilitated by Capt. Jordan Kit. While the core curriculum includes roughly 80 hours of instruction, we offer an additional 30+ hours of structured study sessions and one-on-one tutoring. The online modules are self-paced, allowing students flexibility to learn and revisit material on their own time.
Our in-person sessions focus on reviewing course material, developing effective test-taking strategies, and assisting students with the paperwork and requirements necessary for licensure. The program is further strengthened by support from Argonaut staff, including Captain Samantha Landgraf, Captain Joseph Slusarski, and Rusty Deane. On November 11th, we also welcomed LT. Chad Kozan from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a guest speaker to discuss the real-world implications of the safety topics covered in class.
We currently have 13 students enrolled in the program—including two Davis A&M graduates, Patrick Crowell and William Whalen.
Students have the unique option to take their final exams remotely or in person at Argonaut. The course began on October 30th and held its final study session on Thursday, December 11th. Most students are scheduled to test this week.
Tuition for the course is $650, including all required materials—an intentionally accessible price point compared to other local offerings that cost more than twice as much. Our goal from the beginning was to make captain training both high-quality and affordable, because increasing the number of well-trained, safety-conscious captains makes Cleveland’s waterways safer for everyone.
Looking ahead, we plan to offer this course annually and are exploring additional partnerships with Practical Navigator Training to expand the maritime education opportunities available through Argonaut.
It was an amazing opportunity for students to get first-hand knowledge about the daily duties and responsibilities.
Thank you, Port of Cleveland, for welcoming our students and being such a valued partner!
THE 9TH ANNUAL DAM PUMPKIN DROP
On November 24th, Crews took to the challenge of the 9th annual Pumpkin Drop, attaching parachutes to their pumpkins and sending them soaring toward the ten-foot runways they designed. The energy was sky-high as Crews competed for major prizes: Best Designed Runway won a trip to Top Golf, and any Crew whose runway caught a pumpkin—whether their own or someone else’s—scored candy for everyone!
This year’s candy winners were Ms. Binsack’s, Mrs. Carpenter’s, Mr. Collins’s, Mr. Wolf’s, Mrs. Morrison’s, Ms. Baust’s, and Mrs. Egan’s Crews. Our Top Golf winners included Ms. Binsack’s, Mrs. Hendrix’s, Mrs. Pangrace’s, Ms. Rorapaugh’s, and Mrs. White’s Crews—with Frank’s Crew earning top honors for Best Runway Design! Congrats to all our winners and amazing participants for bringing creativity, teamwork, and huge Pumpkin Drop energy to this year’s event!
ON THE HORIZON
UPCOMING DAVIS EVENTS
Upcoming events this season will highlight student learning and community engagement—stay tuned for dates and details.
Upcoming Winter Events
Winter Vacation (Dec. 22 - Jan 6)
Cleveland Boat Show (Jan. 15-18)
MRO Conference (April 21-23)
Upcoming Robotics Events
2026 FRC Season Kick-Off:
January 10th, 11:00am-2:00pm
2026 FRC Buckeye Regional (8222 will compete here)
March 18th - 21st, 8:30am - 5:00pm
2026 Miami Valley Regional
April 1st - 4th, 8:30am - 5:00pm
2026 FRC New York Tech Valley Regional (8222 will compete here)
April 15th - 18th, 8:30am - 5:00pm
Upcoming Family Fab Saturdays
January 17, 2026
February 21, 2026
March 14, 2026
Avis Aqua - The Deeper Dive - Issue III
THE DEEPER DIVE
To everyone who was able to attend our 2025 Sunset on the Harbor fundraiser, a million thanks. This annual event not only raises critical funds but also allows our Davis Aerospace & Maritime students to showcase their work and successes to an appreciative audience. The kids return to their teachers and classmates with glowing reports and newfound self-esteem. Thank you for that kind of encouragement. It is crucial!
The 2025-2026 school year started on August 18th with our largest incoming freshman class, nearly 120 students. Enrollment at Davis A&M has now reached 300 students. While this success is exciting, it is also challenging. Argonaut must continue supporting existing and new programs, expand internship opportunities, grow and broaden our after-school offerings, and ensure every student is properly prepared, trained, and licensed for their chosen pathways in the aerospace and maritime fields.
Thanks to your support, we have become one of the top-performing high schools in the district! This year, however, brings significant challenges—and we need your help in two important ways.
First, I’m asking you to introduce Argonaut and our Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School to two friends or colleagues. We can arrange tours, visits, and get-togethers with students and staff, offering everyone a much-needed boost. Our favorite and most frequent comment from visitors is, "I wish I had this opportunity when I was a kid!"
Second, I encourage you to consider increasing your contribution. To continue investing in our dedicated teachers, staff, and students, we need additional support. Your contribution strengthens our efforts and is crucial in shaping our future leaders, empowering them to set sail or take flight.
I am immensely grateful for your partnership. With your support, the sky is never the limit!
- Drew
Avis Aqua - Programming Updates -Issue III
PROGRAMMING UPDATES
After-school programming has started for the year. On September 15th, we kicked off with the Maritime and Aviation Clubs. The Fab Lab Club and Drone Club will begin in the second quarter. Through these opportunities, students grow personally and professionally—whether through teamwork, leadership, or connecting classroom learning to their future careers. By working together on complex projects, students strengthen relationships with peers and mentors while gaining real-world skills
This year, Argonaut set ambitious goals for afterschool programming, and the results have been impressive. Enrollment surpassed the target of 52 students with 78 participants, and nearly all students met the attendance benchmark, with 50 attending 30 or more days. Literacy outcomes were especially strong, with 50% of students showing measurable growth—double the goal.
A special shout-out goes to Malyah Hill, a Davis sophomore and aspiring UAS pilot, who led the way with 87 days of attendance and continues to thrive in the Aviation and Drone Club.
Team 8222: New Captains, New Season, New Challenges
Team 8222 is gearing up for the 2026 season by training and preparing new members of the team. With 8 members graduated and moving onto their next steps, we had some big shoes to fill.
Meet our new captains: Eamon and Brady. Eamon has a passion for learning new skills and hopes to one day serve in the U.S. Coast Guard. Brady has a passionfor aviation and wants to be a commercial pilot. He is currently on track, training to become a pilot. Both captains have been on the team for a year and have been trained under their predecessors, Yariselle (now studying Mechatronics Engineering at Kent State) and Jovanni (now studying Mechanical Engineering at Ohio State)
Team 8222 has two off-season competitions this fall. The first competition is at Kettering University, Flint, Michigan on September 20th and the second competition is at the Valley Voltage Vibe competition at Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, Ohio.
The 2026 FIRST FRC REBUILT competition season kickoff will be on January 10th at 2:00pm. This is when all teams around the globe will learn what the new game and challenge is for the season. This will require an entirely new robot, giving us just six weeks to design, build, and program a brand-new robot. We are excited and ready for the new season and can’t wait to share our new robot with you in the spring.
Maritime Program Updates:
Aqua Immersion and Sailing Expansion
The school year is off to a strong start for our mariners. Our incoming freshmen have completed their first two weeks of Aqua Immersion. During their first weeks at Davis, our students dove in and learned to become comfortable with the water at CSU and also experienced the water at Rivergate Park.
Thank you so much to our partners at The Foundry, Cleveland Rowing Foundation, and Cleveland Dragon Boats for their time and expertise.
Argonaut has welcomed a new vessel, Paradox, to our fleet. During the summer, teachers had a chance to view the boat and gave it a stellar review. Compared toprevious vessels, Paradox has sails and will be used to teach basic boat handling and sailing skills to our students and their families alike. From understanding sail trimming to learning basic navigation, students will use their classroom knowledge to participate in real-world, hands-on practice situations.
We’re excited to add Paradox as another layer of our maritime education and programming. Be on the lookout for what’s next as we move full steam ahead, including an occasional entrance into sail racing!
Fab Lab Fall Updates: Creativity in Action
The Fab Lab continues to be a hub for innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Thanks to our amazing summer interns—Calvin Jackson, Elise Galloway, Mikeah Velazquez, Arthur Higher, and Kaysha Jones—for making this past summer such a success. Their energy and dedication brought new ideas and projects to life, showing just how powerful creativity and teamwork can be. From hands-on learning to creative problem-solving, their contributions set the tone for an exciting year ahead as we transition into the new school year.
Looking forward, Fab Club will officially kick off its second quarter this October. Students will once again dive into digital fabrication, design, and innovation. The focus this quarter will be on craftsmanship, aesthetics, and building skills and techniques.
Ingenuity Fest, held in Cleveland from September 26–28, is a celebration of art, technology, and creativity that brings together inventors, makers, and performers from across the region. Argonaut played a big role in showcasing our students’ talents by teaching visitors how to operate drones and airplanes by using our simulators. Visitors had the chance to build boats, create rockets and shoot them off by way of an air compressor and drive our award winning robot. A huge thank you goes out to Emily Applebaum and the entire Ingenuity Team for making this event such a success.
Interns and Alumni Lead Hands-On Projects in Argonaut Aviation
Our Aviation Club has been busy keeping our plane ready to hit the skies. Current Davis student Noah Reed interned at the Argonaut Aviation Department with alum Ortez Littlejohn. Together, they replaced a failing Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) in Argonaut’s Piper Cherokee. The new ELT not only sends out a radio signal but also the GPS position of the aircraft in case of an emergency.
Students also fabricated a remotely controlled aircraft tug that will be used to move Argonaut aircraft. The design of the R/C tug eliminates damage caused to the aircraft's steering system by larger tugs with towbars.
In addition to his work with Noah, Ortez was instrumental in helping diagnose and replace a worn-out cylinder on the Cherokee engine.
Through their participation in the Aviation Club, students had the opportunity to learn about and use several tools specific to the aviation industry and the machine shop/tool-making industry.
The Davis Drone Soccer Team is in the works!
We are excited to announce our plans for a Drone Soccer program this fall semester. Created in South Korea, Drone Soccer has gained popularity worldwide. Argonaut is bringing this fun activity to our Davis students with the purchase of a starter kit. Students are already building, programming, and strategizing together as they dive into this exciting new sport!
Avis Aqua - The Student Section - Issue III
THE STUDENT SECTION
From the classroom to the community - students making their mark.
Student Voices: Summertime internship stories
This year, our students have had the opportunity to dive into hands-on internships across maritime, aviation, and fabrication industries.
From navigating one of Cleveland’s largest vessels on the Goodtime III to gaining real-world aviation experience with United Airlines, and learning fabrication skills in the Argonaut Fab Lab, our interns have explored a variety of career paths. These experiences have not only strengthened their technical skills but also given them a firsthand look at what it takes to succeed in their chosen fields. Here’s what some of our students had to say about their internship journeys.
Kameron Noel, Goodtime III: “My experience on the Goodtime III has been a real eye-opener. Compared to other boats that I've been on, this one is by far the largest vessel. I've learned about the boat's mechanics and how it operates. I've sat in the pilot house to see what the captain sees, and I've even driven the boat using some of the navigation equipment. I’ve used the wheel to maneuver the boat, which is fun but challenging. I’ve been able to call out to bridges to allow the vessel through, which is pretty exciting. Overall, being allowed to work on the boat has been the best. I hope to take my Maritime career to the next level through the Goodtime III and Argonaut!”
Phoenix Guerrero, 2543: "Working on 2543 has truly shaped my decision to pursue a maritime career. It’s been such an amazing experience working with medical and maritime. I am very fortunate to be a part of the Argonaut program.”
Brady Lukcso, United Airlines: "My time at United Airlines was a fantastic! Through the internship, I have acquired a range of skills essential for a career in aviation. Meeting people in the aviation field helped prepare me for my future as a pilot. I am very thankful for the opportunity at United Airlines and am looking forward to my future in aviation."
Kyra McIntosh, United Airlines: “It was fun! I enjoyed learning about how workers organize items at United. I also learned a lot about how they keep [parts] together and organized. Overall, it was an enjoyable and godly experience!”
Elise Galloway, Fab Lab: “Working in the Fab Lab was a great experience. I got to work on different projects and learned the process of putting something together from start to finish. Creating new things was really exciting. My overall experience was eye-opening and fun.”
Noah Reed, Argonaut Aviation: “Working with Ioannis this summer was more challenging than I expected. There were challenges, and I did struggle, but through my experience, I learned areas I need to improve on as I work toward my career path. Overall, I enjoyed the work”
Luis Correa, RTA: “I developed hands-on experience working with mechanics at RTA. I gained valuable experience from other employees about my future. I learned how to work as a team with the other interns.”
MAGNET ECEC UPDATES
It’s that time of year again – the Early College Early Career Program is back! Tristan Johnson, Meairra Jackson, Edwin Romero, God Brooks, Camille Brooks, Genesis Cruz, and Noa Bazile will begin the second year of their Magnet Program. After gaining experience with Talan Products, Olympus Aerospace, and Euclid Heating over the summer, our students will now work with these companies on Fridays and Magnet on Wednesdays. The ECEC program helps students develop professional skills that prepare them for entering the workforce upon graduation. We are looking forward to recruiting for the second round of Juniors in the upcoming months!
Avis Aqua - The Dispatch - Issue III
THE DISPATCH
Your hub for everything happening at Davis and Argonaut.
4th annual Sunset on the harbor fundraiser
Argonaut hosted our Annual Sunset on the Harbor Benefit. We celebrated our students, teachers, and staff; reaffirmed our commitment to developing our future leaders in maritime and aviation, and communed around a shared vision of a stronger and more prosperous city. We're incredibly grateful to our partners and community members for your support and for sharing this memorable evening.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
ON THE HORIZON
UPCOMING DAVIS EVENTS DATES
Upcoming events this season will highlight student learning and community engagement—stay tuned for dates and details.
Fab Saturdays - 11am-2pm (Projects to be announced)
- October 25, 2025
- November 15, 2025
- December 13, 2025
Other Davis A&M Events
- 9/29 - Club Attendance Breakfast Flight
- 9/30 - Discovery Flights Starts for Sophomores
- 10/2 - Davis A&M Homecoming
- 10/3 - Manufacturing Day at Great Lakes Science Center
Avis Aqua – The Deeper Dive – Issue II
THE DEEPER DIVE
Building upon the incredible excitement and energy of Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School's 5th Graduation Ceremony, Argonaut has already begun 2025-2026 programming and planning with renewed excitement. We look forward to sharing the latest improvements in our next newsletter!!!
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Cleveland School Board voted unanimously to move twenty-one schools to the district's traditional calendar and eliminate the 30 extra minutes of daily classroom time that twenty-four schools receive (Ideastream article April 29, 2025). The social activism response launched by students and their families was awesome. Their appeal to the Board, demonstration in front of the BoE building, and dialogues with the media, including National Public Radio, were informed, well-orchestrated, respectful, and modeled their First Amendment Rights. Our seniors were committed to guaranteeing undergraduates and future students have the same experiences and opportunities they have been blessed with.
Despite strong opposition, Davis will see both changes beginning the next school year. While this outcome has been met with frustration and disappointment, I am overwhelmed by an incredible sense of pride as I've witnessed the passionate commitment of our Davis students, teachers, staff, and families. The experience has been educational and empowering for everyone.
The cuts to year-round and extended-day schools were not in response to Davis A&M's performance but focused on the collective metrics of all CMSD schools. Davis A&M has outperformed nearly all CMSD high schools, and our Career Technical Education and Work-Based learning model is a state exemplar. We have upheld our mission and continue year after year to raise our standards and set higher goals. Our students are inspired and aspirational, and their accomplishments defy their realities.
Programming and engagement are not defined by what resources are readily available. We identify the need by engaging students, families, staff, community partners, and industries. We design solutions utilizing the collective knowledge and expertise of this Argonaut and Davis network. We secure key resources from our community, state, federal, and industry partners for the specific support and funding required for the defined success.
When Argonaut was founded in 2010 (PHASTAR), it was with full knowledge that the long-term success of our Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School required committed lifelong partners, staunch allies, and champions. We were purposefully conceived and launched to counter political changes, economic shifts, and strategic adjustments by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District that will continuously test the resilience and challenge the very existence of the Davis A&M community. This is now Argonaut's time to shine. We ask all of you who have engaged in this journey over the past 15 years, from our original task force to our newest volunteers and community partners, to recommit to Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School. We need your support!
Davis WILL continue to be a year-round school providing support beyond the traditional school calendar and four years of high school. Like the Tuskegee Airmen Legacy on which we are founded, we will continue to fight for change through action and perseverance in the face of adversity. We know our mission, and we will prevail. We are Davis A&M.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. I look forward to hearing from you.
-Drew
Avis Aqua – Student Section – Issue I I
THE STUDENT SECTION
From the classroom to the community - students making their mark.
NEVER FORGET BY: DAVID ISAIAH TRIPLETT
A powerful, introspective letter to self, ‘Never Forget’ explores the evolving understanding of black identity, the burden and beauty of cultural history, and the importance of embracing one’s heritage without being crushed by its weight.
Dear Younger Me,
I'm sure you don't know the true meaning of what it means to be Black, African American, or of African descent. It's a beautiful thing; not many people understand how spectacular it is to be black, but that's something you'll learn once you grow up. The depth of the skin we share is a physical representation of the struggle our people went through, but that's something you'll have to learn when you get older.
As you grow in age, you'll find that people like to gauge their "blackness" off of how much Black history they know, and that's not truly important. What matters most is what is important to you and what impacts your spirit.
Don't focus on trying to learn everything about Black history, because that's not all for you to know.
The depth of our history, like our skin, is dark and scarred, yet beautiful, complex, and deep. People will make fun of our history, like our skin, unaware of what we've been through, what we've experienced, the winding roots of history that are embellished upon a blank canvas of flesh. The burden of knowledge is too great for a young mind to bear. Instead, focus on losing the hatred you have as a result of ignorance of the past and the way the world works. Don't let the world mold how you see it. That may not make a lot of sense now, but it will once you're older.
A lot of people are gonna want to see you dead, a vast amount being people who look like us. I don't know if they're victims of their surroundings, or willful ignorance, but not every black man is your friend, the same as every white man isn't your enemy. Choose your friends wisely; your friends can make or break your future. I know you made the right ones because you got this letter in the first place.
Good luck navigating the world. Your knowledge is not up to others to judge, and neither are your choices in friends. Always remember.
Dear Older Me,
I hope you take my advice. This letter is a little more difficult to write, as I don't know what you'll turn out like in, say, 7 years. I can only assume you know more about Black history than me. Although it isn't necessary to know everything, it's still important to know your history. Yes, if one person doesn't know the history, it doesn't all fade away. And it's not important because if we ignore history, it's bound to repeat. It's important we represent the unsung heroes who weren't praised for fighting and lost their lives to ensure that our rights were safe. While we celebrate Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, George Washington Carver, Ruby Bridges, Garrett Morgan, and Martin Luther King Jr., everyday individuals deserve representation. The point of doing a noble act isn't so that you can be praised after you die, but rather so the work you've done is remembered. The people who've been killed and the ones who've been tortured to be made as a warning to keep us in our place are the ones who need to be remembered among the big names.
Those who disregard their interests to stand up against those who want to keep us down deserve to be remembered. Events like the bus boycott need to be remembered, but the average person doesn't know about the sit-ins. Moments where the violence spoke louder than our peace, and yet we still pushed on. The freedom riders are those remembered for being harassed simply riding the bus to the South to fight the lack of enforcement of anti-segregation laws.
I can only assume you know more than I do. Don't forget: the world doesn't depend on your knowledge of Black history. It doesn't gauge your amount of "blackness" to not know the smaller stories. Don't have the mindset that if you don't know it, it's lost knowledge. The world is not your judge, so don't let them bully you into trying to hold the entirety of our history in your head. Although important, some people carry those legacies and carry them well. 400+ years is a lot of history to understand. Always remember what you know doesn't make you who you are, but what you choose to do with knowledge because that speaks volumes to your character.
Always remember.
CLASS OF 2025
Graduates not pictured - Chris Lewis, Robert Bradford
WRAPPING UP THE YEAR!
See how our students wrapped up the year with many fun events!
OUR SENIORS SHOWED UP STYLISH AND DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY AT PROM.
THE ARGONAUT CLASSIC
A friendly rivalry between Tim Hatfield and Devon Sheehy led to a game of baseball. Both coaches picked their rosters, held practice and had a hard fought game. When it was all said and done Team Hatfield won in a rout 14-4. We are hoping to continue this event annually.
STUDENTS AND STAFF ENJOYED ANOTHER FIELD DAY
3RD ANNUAL BENJAMIN O' DAVIS SENIOR AWARD BANQUET
This is a night where we celebrate our graduating scholars who have earned an award based on their merits, talent, and extracurricular activities. Every student who attended was nominated for at least one award by their teachers, mentors, and peers. There were also staff awards that were handed out.
AWARD WINNERS
DEDICATED PRESENCE AWARD
- DE'EARIS GREEN
Finished strong award
- Antoine Blair
100 hours of service
- Marc johnson
- yariselle andujar
- jovanni bearden
- daniela moreno-machuca
- arianna robinson
- elmer de leon gonzalez
student council
- Marc johnson
- yariselle andujar
- Kylie turney
- arianna robinson
- Kayla peterson
"W" Staff Award
- Tyler Stillings
- Zach tolles
Trail Blazer Award
Christian price
exemplar: fab lab
- Robert bradford
exemplar: Drone
- kameron noel
- Luis correa
exemplar: robotics
- yariselle andujar
- Jovanni bearded
drone dept. award
- Canon Drake
exemplar: fab lab
- Randy Negron
exemplar: fab lab
- Aliyah Brown
exemplar: fab lab
- Maxwell Campbell
exemplar: fab lab
- Yoselin Ruiz Ventura
exemplar: fab lab
- Elmer de Leon Gonzalez
POAG - Positive contributor
Quinn schumann
POAG - critical thinker
MESSIAH BROOKS
POAG - COURAGEOUS
- yariselle andujar
POAG - CLEAR COMMUNICATOR
- MARC JOHNSON
POAG - SELF ADVOCATE
- ELMER DE LEON GONZALEZ
ARGONAUTS OF THE YEAR
- yariselle andujar
- Jovanni bearded
PINK AWARD
- ELMER DE LEON GONZALEZ
BENJAMIN O' DAVIS AWARD
- YARISELLE ANDUJAR