About Think Global Flight
Our volunteers were critical in supporting Think Global Flight’s mission of inspiring our next generation. The success of Captain Judy and crew circumnavigating the globe while piloting a Citation Mustang, engaged more than 20,000 students in 35 countries.
The students’ Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M). and career awareness was developed through numerous events. Primary students, led by an educator or parent, generally followed Captain Judy’s flight, thus bringing the world of geography to life. These students were exposed to real-time cultures by joining Captain Judy in her travels through social media, the web site blog, or LIVE broadcasts. Middle school, high school, and college students participated in the Winds Aloft Contest. This student-led program empowered and excited all the participating students in their learning through researching, analyzing, and forecasting winds aloft and flight parameters from one of Think Global Flight’s routes of their choosing. Students interacted with Rice throughout her flight, comparing their predictions with actual winds aloft and much more.
Augmenting Think Global Flight’s educational message is the additional, very significant message conveyed by Captain Rice’s gender as a female in a predominantly male career field. Rice is a model career mentor, enriching the lives of diverse youth through educational and career mentoring initiatives.
Among those expressing their support were Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin and Voyager pilot Dick Rutan. Buzz Aldrin accompanied the Crew on most of their journey. Dr. Aldrin expressed his support by saying, “Back when I was privileged to be a part of the Apollo program no one had ever heard of S.T.E.A.M. This is the precise focus of Think Global Flight and why I strongly support Captain Judy and the flight. I witnessed the differences Captain Judy created on this historic flight.”
Captain Rice created the non-profit organization to serve as a global, inaugural experience for students’ exploration of career options and pathways in the aviation and aerospace industries. The project was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for its real-world applications in growing Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) awareness.
Our Volunteers
FLIGHT CREW
Navigator Fred Nauer
Captain Edwin Sahakian
Captain John Friedman
LOGISTIC CREW
Gary Marschheuser, Ground Crew Chief
Rich Mamrosh National Weather Service
EDUCATION CREW
Neme Alperstein
Lisa Bacon
Lori Bradner
Janet Ivey
Diana LaSueur
Pamela Leestma
Lonnie Schorer
Keith Minerva