The following is a press release distributed by the Washoe County School District.

Reno, NV (September 24, 2024) – The Gillemot Foundation has provided a grant of $1,009,350 to transform existing facilities at the Academy of Arts, Careers & Technology (AACT) into a state-of-the-art learning center focused on aviation technology. Representatives of the foundation announced the grant during the regular public meeting of the Washoe County School District (WCSD) Board of Trustees, which accepted the funds with a unanimous vote.

“George was an aviator, inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and dreamer, as well as a lifelong learner,” said Thomas J. Hall, a Trustee for the Gillemot Foundation. “The reason I got along with George so well in the 40 years that I knew him is that I like to accomplish things, and he did, too.”

“We are so grateful to the Gillemot Foundation for this generous gift to our students,” said WCSD Board President Beth Smith. “This facility will inspire and serve our students who aspire to careers in the aviation field for decades to come, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Foundation for its support.”

The new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Aviation Technology program at AACT will encompass the refurbishment of three classroom spaces into an Aviation Tech Classroom, a Drone Testing Lab, and a Flight Simulator Room, each designed to provide specialized training in aviation technology. The primary goal of the program will be to support students as they explore the fundamentals of flight and provide early educational steps toward careers in the aviation industry. The program is designed to foster a pipeline of qualified professionals who are ready to meet the demands of the aviation industry.

The Foundation is named for George W. Gillemot, who fell in love with northern Nevada and moved to Lake Tahoe in the early 1980’s. Before his passing in 2022 at the age of 96, he created the Gillemot Foundation, one purpose of which is to advance education in aviation, aerospace, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Gillemot Foundation Trustees believe that encouraging young people to pursue their dreams by exploring their talents and the opportunities available to them will have a positive and long-lasting impact on the future of our world.

The Gillemot Foundation has donated to the University of Nevada, Reno, and is developing a partnership with Truckee Community College for aviation programs. WCSD’s program would represent a critical first step in a robust education pathway for students who are seeking careers in aviation fields at schools in northern Nevada.

AACT High School would recruit at least 20 freshmen, 20 sophomores, and 20 juniors to begin the Aviation Technology Program for the 2025-26 school year.

Members of the WCSD Board of Trustees gratefully accept $1 million in grant funding from Trustees of the George W. Gillemot Foundation.