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JAMIE HELANDER

  • Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2018

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Aeronautics, '20

  • Host Institution: JetBlue Technology Ventures

  • Mentor: Nicole Stott

Jamie Helander began her education at Guilford Technical Community College in North Carolina and graduated in May 2016 with her AAS in Aviation Management. While at GTCC, she served as the President of the Alpha Eta Rho – Gamma Theta Chi chapter, Treasurer and Ground Events Instructor of the NIFA GTCC Flight Team, Student Government Association – Aviation Campus Representative, and GTCC Student Ambassador.

Jamie is now a Senior studying Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University through the Worldwide online program while leading the mission at the Aviation Community Foundation (ACF). She began her time at ACF immediately following her internship at JetBlue Technology Ventures. Jamie was hired as the Director of Operations but was quickly promoted to serve as Executive Director. ACF’s mission is to Launch 1,000,000 Flight Plans for Life while promoting diversity and inclusion in aviation. The organization supports over 100,000 through its partnerships with the nation’s top youth aviation education programs across the country.

Jamie caught the “aviation bug” at a young age while flying RC planes with her dad. In high school, she pursued aviation further by attending Private Pilot Ground School and a local aviation summer camp in 2012. For the following three summers, Jamie returned to the camp as a Counselor and Lead Counselor. The camp was where Jamie realized her true passion lies in propelling young people to pursue careers and hobbies within aviation, aerospace, and beyond! This passion drew her to help found the Youth Aviation Programs Association (YAPA) in 2014, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting all youth-based, aviation programs and assisting in the dissemination of information to help build new programs and strengthen the existing ones. Jamie served as the Director of Youth Involvement with YAPA for 4 years.

As a Brooke Owens Fellow, Jamie worked for JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV) and the Hiller Aviation Museum near San Francisco, CA. At JTV, Jamie developed the foundation for a national-recognized Girl Scouts of USA Aviation Badge. She wrote age-appropriate curriculum, forged partnerships with the Girl Scouts of Northern California (GSNORCAL) Council & many industry companies/organizations, solicited Letters of Support from over 100 aviation/aerospace museums, universities with aviation departments, companies, and organizations, and presented the project to GSNORCAL's CEO and STEM staff. After 6 months of anxiously waiting, GSUSA has accepted Jamie's Aviation Badge series proposal and will be actively building-out the curriculum in 2019! At the Hiller Aviation Museum, Jamie developed, designed, produced, and directed the "Heads Up @ Hiller!" series, encompassing promotional and educational YouTube videos.