The grant application is now open for the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Education Grant Program. Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are due on May 31. Grants are for education programs that are aviation and aerospace minded for primary through post-secondary education. The program funds are part of more than $500,000 the agency annually provides to programs statewide aimed at exposing more Oklahoma young people to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and careers in the aviation and aerospace industry.
At the ODAA, one of our top priorities is to encourage the next generation to consider careers in the aerospace and aviation sectors upon graduation.
The ODAA’s aerospace and aviation education funding supports the Oklahoma Works initiative that aims to address the skills gap and connect students to programs that will help build Oklahoma’s aerospace and aviation workforce.
Aerospace and aviation education is one of the ODAA’s top priorities. Since FY2001, it has awarded $6.5 million in aerospace and education funding to organizations and programs throughout the state.
(ABOVE) While it isn’t likely fighter trainers like this one will ever be built in Watonga, ancillary parts for it could be. Use of the Aerospace and Aeronautics Education Grant at WHS ensures students could graduate with the skills the industry needs right out of high school.