UND Donates $25,000 To Troubled LA A&P School

The University of North Dakota has donated $25,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s struggling aircraft mechanics school located on Van Nuys Airport. The donation will be used to award scholarships to low-income students preparing for high-paying, high-skilled jobs as trained airframe and powerplant mechanics.

Recently threatened with closure by budget cuts, the vocational school was saved by a large private donation, strong advocacy campaign and rent relief from Los Angeles World Airports.

“The University of North Dakota is home to one of the nation’s top collegiate flight training programs and we’re honored to show our support for one of the nation’s top aircraft mechanics schools,” said Larry Martin, board chairman for the non-profit UND Aerospace Foundation. “Aircraft maintenance is one of the most important jobs in aviation, and great pilots need skilled aircraft mechanics to protect the safety of both flight crew and passengers.”

Martin will present a $25,000 check to school district officials at the Valley of the Stars Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony honoring leaders in education, business and community service.