News Release: 8/17/2026

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
August 2026

Regional Partnership Expands Aviation Career Opportunities for Queen Anne's County Students
 A new partnership is taking flight to introduce Queen Anne's County students to exciting career opportunities in aviation.
 
As part of its mission to strengthen connections between education and industry, the Upper Shore Regional Council's (USRC) Regional Career & Technical Education (CTE) Liaison program recently brought together representatives from Queen Anne's County Economic and Tourism Development, Queen Anne's County Public Schools, and the Easton Airport to explore the airport's Aviation Career Education (ACE) Program.
 
Participating in the meeting were Connie Dean, Career & Technical Education Liaison for Queen Anne's County Economic and Tourism Development; Adam Tolley, Supervisor of Instruction for Queen Anne's County Public Schools; Nancy LaJoice, USRC Regional CTE Liaison, and Micah Riser, Airport Manager, along with Jeff Lankford, Business Manager for Easton Airport.
 
The visit included a tour of the airport's ACE facilities and discussions about future collaboration to expose students to aviation careers through hands-on learning experiences. Plans were discussed for Queen Anne's County educators to return for a more in-depth tour, with the goal of developing future student field trips to the airport.
 
The Easton Airport ACE Program introduces students and young adults to the many career pathways within aviation and aerospace through STEM activities, airport tours, workshops, and interaction with aviation professionals. Students can learn about careers such as pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, air traffic services, engineering, airport operations, and many other occupations that support the aviation industry.
 
For students with a strong interest in aviation, future experiences may also include introductory "Discovery Flights," providing a unique opportunity to experience flight while learning firsthand about careers in the field.
 "One of the goals of the Regional CTE Liaison initiative is to connect schools with businesses and organizations that can provide meaningful career exploration opportunities," said Nancy LaJoice, USRC Regional CTE Liaison. "By building these relationships across our region, we're helping students discover career pathways they may never have considered while supporting local employers in developing tomorrow's workforce."

The Upper Shore Regional Council's Regional CTE Liaison initiative works across Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's counties to strengthen partnerships between education, business, industry, and community organizations, helping students explore high-demand careers through real-world experiences.

For more information about the Easton Airport Aviation Career Education (ACE) Program, visit the Easton Airport website. https://eastonairport.com/ace/