Republic Airways Cadet program sets Polk State Aerospace students on path to meaningful careers
When graduate An Nguyen became the first student ambassador at Polk State College for the Republic Airways RJet Cadet Program, it had just two members. Since then, the program has grown to nine members at Polk State and now has a second ambassador.
The program is available to all students with an instrument rating. Benefits of the program include conditional job offers from Republic Airways, branded merchandise and contact and access to resources from the Indianapolis-based airline’s talent acquisition division.
“Being the first ambassador, I’ve been happy to see a lot of my peers get into the program,” said Nguyen, former ambassador and a Polk State graduate transitioning to employment with Republic Airways. “As ambassadors for Republic Airways, we are responsible for updating our cadets on news coming from Republic Airways and mentoring the cadets and recruiting new cadets.”
Program benefits
“The biggest benefit is the connections you make,” Nguyen added. “Every semester, we host events where we invite Republic Airways pilots to talk to the cadets.”
Now a graduate of Polk State’s Aerospace Program, Nguyen remains an ambassador with the program and is actively involved. Earlier this year, Seamus Cole became Polk State’s second ambassador through the Republic program.
“Students in the Aerospace Program should consider the Republic Airways Cadet Program because it’s a step toward getting in the door and learning the ropes of the airline industry,” Cole explained. “You connect with other students and connect into their training and career paths.”
Conditional job offers from Republic Airways are non-binding, which means that graduates can still seek out other opportunities. Nguyen hopes to work as a commercial pilot one day. Cole aspires to be an airline pilot.
“That’s what I’ve wanted to be since I was young,” Cole said. “Polk State and Republic Airways are helping me work toward that goal.”
“The Republic Airways RJet Cadet Program is an outstanding example of how strong industry partnerships create life-changing opportunities for our students,” Polk State College President Anastasios ‘Stasi’ Kamoutsas said. “Through programs like this, our students gain valuable mentorship, professional connections and the confidence to pursue their dreams while helping meet the growing workforce needs of the aviation industry.”
Polk State student Braden Wilson is a relatively new member of the program. He also hopes to become an airline pilot and fly internationally.
“There were a couple of things about Republic Airways that made me want to join,” Wilson exclaimed. “The main points were a footstep into a major airline as well as their emphasis on the state colleges. You get the same opportunity as in some of the universities.”
Why Polk State Aerospace?
Since Polk State Aerospace launched in 2013, the program has experienced much success, including job placement for its graduates thanks to industry partnerships, valuable study abroad opportunities and authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to save students thousands of dollars in flight-training hours. This program utilizes a state-of-the-art approach to training that allows students from all aerospace degree paths to share knowledge and experience in a blended learning environment modeled on the actual operations of the modern aerospace industry.
“One of my favorite things about the Polk State Aerospace Program is that it is located at a large, busy airport, which (gives insight into the industry),” Wilson said about Polk State Airside East, which sits next to Lakeland Linder International Airport. “The Polk State Aerospace Program stood out to me when I came out to do a discovery flight. I was introduced to my advisor, and she has helped me tremendously with taking classes and figuring out payment plans and helping me through the entire pathway to help me reach my future goals.”