Mighty Medical Helicopter Landing Makes Career Day Extra-Memorable

TAMPA, FL — Students at IDEA Public Schools got closer than ever to careers in medicine and aviation as a thundering medical helicopter touched down on their school campus May 12, kicking off a memorable Career Day for middle school students.

The Aeromed helicopter from Tampa General Hospital landed on the lawn of IDEA Victory, a public charter school located in an area of North Tampa surrounded by persistently low-performing schools.

By delivering inspiring moments and the tools students need to succeed academically, IDEA Victory is making a positive impact on the community and creating a brighter future for its students.

“Our philosophy at IDEA Public Schools is that every child can go to college, regardless of their background or circumstances,” said Latoya McGhee, principal at IDEA Victory College Prep. “Our Career Day is an excellent opportunity to expose our scholars to many career paths that they may not see in the neighborhoods where they live. By showing them how high they can fly through higher education, we can inspire them to set ambitious goals and achieve success.”

Throughout the day, special guests representing different professions—from accounting to zoology—shared their experiences, knowledge and passion for their respective fields. The highlight of the day was the presence of the mighty TGH Aeromed medical evacuation helicopter. Students eagerly climbed through the helicopter and asked the flight crew questions as they explored.

IDEA Public Schools currently has four public charter schools located on two campuses—IDEA Victory and IDEA Hope—serving more than 1,600 students across Tampa Bay. As a nationwide network, nearly 100 percent of IDEA’s graduates have been accepted to college for the past 16 years and 7,795 IDEA alumni have attended more than 300 colleges.