Local Pastor and Craftsman Builds Custom Bench for Aviation Program
Tucked away on campus where innovation meets ambition, Jessup’s Aviation program is quietly gaining altitude. With increasing numbers of prospective students visiting campus each year to learn more about the growing program, there has long been one thing missing – visibility.
For all its promise, the program lacked a physical presence on campus that signaled the program’s existence to over 40,000 visitors annually. Aviation isn’t a major most people would expect, or inquire about, at a small faith-based University. “The result is all those 40,000 visitors would leave campus without ever knowing we have an aviation program,” Aviation Program Director Lt Col, USAF (Ret.) Loo Ng said.” Since many of these visitors have a faith-based background, they are more likely to attend a Christian University.”
That hurdle began to change when Randy Pollard introduced himself to Ng at Jessup’s National Day of Prayer gathering last May. “What Randy didn’t know was I had been praying for someone to help me locate or create a suitable static display that would hold up under rain and sun, and that visually represented our program on campus” Ng said. “Randy proceeded to ask how he could help with aviation and to this day, our initial meeting has proved to be a tremendous blessing.”
Pollard is senior pastor at Sierra Baptist Church in Newcastle, California and also happens to have his private pilot’s license. He is currently serving as a chaplain for Jessup’s aviation club meetings where he prays over students, helping wherever he can.
Drawn to Jessup by a desire to share his skills, Pollard found a unique way to make a lasting impact. Inspired by Jessup Aviation’s mission and the enthusiasm of its students, Pollard designed two handcrafted custom airplanes positioned above a bench that now sits proudly near the aviation department. The bench serves as both a functional piece of art and a powerful visual symbol of the aviation program’s identity.
“For Jessup, this bench is more than seating,” said Ng. “It’s a statement and tells a story of community involvement, passion for flight and the importance of visibility in a competitive educational landscape.”
This fall Jessup’s aviation program reported 50 students in the program. There are many advantages to earning a degree in aviation as opposed to obtaining a pilot’s license without a degree. For example, earning a bachelor’s degree from Part-141-certified institutions such as Jessup requires only 1,000 flight hours versus 1,500. FAA approved degree programs also offer structured, efficient training and provide a competitive edge in the job market “Many major airline carriers tend to favor applicants with a four-year degree,” Ng said. “All things being equal, a degree can give applicants an edge when competing with other qualified applicants.”
