#TakingFlight - Alaska Airlines and UNCF Partner to Send 40 Students on Historic Trip
“We’re here for Black excellence and so students who look like us have opportunities to see colleges in more states,” Franklin High School Junior Chukundi Salisbury Jr. said. “I’m looking forward to networking and meeting people at these colleges.”
Yesterday morning, Alaska Airlines and UNCF teamed up to begin a historic experience for 40 high school students from the Pacific Northwest. The students and their chaperones were flown to Atlanta along with their chaperones and a Converge Media film crew aboard Alaska’s Our Commitment aircraft for a trip which will include visits to HBCUs around the Atlanta area.
The celebration at the gate featured a DJ, speeches, giveaways and a look at the aircraft. Present were UNCF Pacific Northwest Area Development Director Linda Thompson-Black, Captain Ron Limes, Seattle Credit Union COO Mele Miller, and Alaska Airlines executives.
“This is a historic day,” Thompson-Black. “We’re so excited to have the students have this opportunities to explore HBCUs and see what sort of things they’d like to pursue in their lives.”
Student Nakiya Stevens, who is currently enrolled in Running Start at Skyline College, said she’s excited to pursue greatness.
“It’s special because I’m going to get to learn more about my culture and also how I can be great,” Stevens said. “I want to be a screenwriter, and I like putting my ideas to paper and I’m hoping they’ll be projected on the big screen.”
Stevens says she wants to go to Spellman, and is excited to see the school on the tour.
The students weren’t the only ones excited about the trip. Alaska Airlines Captain Ron Limes said he was grateful for the opportunity to take part in the historic journey and to fly the Our Commitment aircraft.
“It’s special,” Limes said. “This is the first step into the future for these young adults. I’m excited for them - they’re the future of our country and the future of our community.”
Stay tuned for more coverage from the send-off and throughout the trip.
Photos by Seattle photographer Jordan Somers on behalf of Converge Media.
