Adopt-A-Pilot® Celebrates 25 Years!

Sr Community Outreach Specialist Lori Skinner and Communications Intern Madelyn Nelson

Adopt-A-Pilot® celebrates 25 years of our Pilots inspiring fifth-grade students to let their dreams take flight through mentorship, educational activities, and fun ties!

At Southwest Airlines, we’re known for our hearts in the skies, our communities, or the classroom! We’ve connected our Employees and students with educational resources, mentorship, and unique learning opportunities, including through our Adopt-A-Pilot Program (AAP) since 1997. Southwest Pilots volunteer in fifth-grade classrooms to teach lessons about aviation; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; and positive life skills like time management and goal setting. In return, students discover aviation careers and how to see their dreams take flight!

Over the past 25 years, we’ve made a difference in the lives of more than half a million young aviation enthusiasts. The connections go beyond the curriculum, and Pilots form lifelong mentorships with the students.

Adopt-A-Pilots Throughout The System

Mentorships Take Flight

Hagen, an AAP student from 2016, shared his story with the program and his connection with DAL Captain Dave Martin, a 10-year AAP Ambassador. Hagen recalls learning about time management from Captain Dave by following his flight adventures. Students like Hagen interact with a personable mentor and role model to inspire them to pursue their dreams.

“For me, participating in the Adopt-A-Pilot Program is simply amazing,” said Martin. “I feel good knowing that these young minds are eager to learn. That they’re genuinely interested in what you’re teaching them. Students enjoy ’homework‘ in the AAP program and learning by participating! They get excited about it.”

MCO Captain Atif Fareed started as one of our original Pilots when the program launched, and he’s remained actively involved for 25 years! During his early days of volunteering with AAP, Captain Atif noticed his impact. “I took my kids to the park, and a six-year-old pointed at me and said, ‘I know you mister,’” said Atif. “I was intrigued and asked him how he knew me. He said I was the coolest adult, came to his class, and talked about airplanes. I realized that day I impacted him and had a natural teaching ability.”

“Early in my career, a mentor told me when you get to where you’re going, make sure you turn around and help the ones coming up behind you. Participating in a program that gives back to its community in an impactful way empowers me to do just that. I’m grateful I work for a Company like Southwest that allows me to share what I love with others.”

“It’s gratifying to build the children’s confidence to believe in themselves, choose their goals, and have the tenacity to achieve their dreams. At the same time, I emphasize being kind, grateful, and honest. Sharing real-world experience helps spark their math, science, and geography from a rote level to a correlation level of learning. I’m grateful for how much I gain by engaging and listening to the children.”

25th-Anniversary Tie

One unique element of AAP is the annual tie contest! Each year since 2006, Southwest Pilots who volunteer in AAP receive a custom tie typically designed by a fifth-grade student. These ties thank the Pilots for their generosity and mark the ongoing connection between our Pilots and students. The tradition is a well-known and highly anticipated part of the program!

Southwest Employees voted for the 25th-anniversary special-edition tie design this year, which took a different approach to celebrate the milestone anniversary. One of Southwest’s talented designers, Brianna Juda, created the artwork for the winning tie design for Pilots to wear throughout the celebrations. The design shows a pencil pointing toward an airplane runway—the perfect combination of education and aviation. Participating Pilots proudly wear the tie during their travels!

Anniversary Plane Decal Celebration

In true Southwest fashion, we celebrated this milestone anniversary while reflecting on the impact and growth of the program. We want AAP to go beyond the classroom, so we took it to the skies!

AAP Ambassadors, past students, and current fifth-grade enthusiasts visited the Southwest hangar in Dallas for a plane decal unveiling and a celebration to commemorate the inspiring program. Students saw the new plane first-hand, hung out with our Pilots, and played games on this memorable field trip for our future aviators. The next time you board a Southwest flight, see if you’re on the AAP plane!

Southwest Pilots lead with Heart by sharing their passion and knowledge with the next generation of aviators. We appreciate their time and dedication to our Adopt-A-Pilot Program and can’t wait to see it thrive in the next 25 years and beyond!