Texas Southern University, Southwest Airlines announce career pathway partnership
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Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on March 31, 2022 Texas Southern University (TSU) and Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced TSU as a university partner – and the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) – in the airline’s First Officer recruitment program: Destination 225°. On a compass, 225° is the southwest directional heading, and the carrier developed Destination 225° to lead aspiring pilots to Southwest Airlines. Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, TSU President, and Lee Kinnebrew, Southwest’s Vice President of Flight Operations, signed an agreement and exchanged symbolic gifts to publicly announce the partnership. Texas Southern University, with its groundbreaking Aviation Science & Technology program, is the only school in Texas that offers a combined Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Science Management and, beginning just six years ago, a Bachelor of Science degree as a Professional Pilot. “Working with Southwest Airlines and Destination 225° aligns with Texas Southern University’s mission of transformation – not only for our students, but for STEM-related industries such as aviation. This is great news for TSU Director of Aviation Dr. Terence Fontaine, the Aviation Science program and our students.” said Dr. Crumpton-Young. “African American, Hispanic and Asian American pilots are significantly underrepresented in the U.S. This makes our degree program and our new partnership with Southwest a critical pathway for the next generation of minority pilots and aviation professionals.” “We’re honored to welcome Texas Southern University as the newest academic partner in our Destination 225° program as we focus on hiring, training and developing the next generation of world-class, professional aviators.,” said Southwest’s Kinnebrew. “We recognize the importance of embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do, and we are confident this partnership and defined career pathway supports underrepresented and minority aspiring pilots in their efforts to join the Southwest family.” As part of the Destination 225° University Pathway Program, Southwest joins well-known educational and industry partners to train and reinforce "The Southwest Way" of flying. After being accepted into the program and completing their university degree, candidates build post-graduate flight instructing time within their college’s flight program, with the goal of becoming competitively qualified to interview for a First Officer role at one of the program’s partner carriers. After building their flying experience at a partner carrier, candidates will be considered for a First Officer position at Southwest Airlines. Candidates also receive ongoing career mentorship from a Southwest pilot during their university studies and early flying career. “Our job as educators is not complete until our students are either employed or seeking further education,” added Dr. Fontaine. “Today, our partners at Southwest Airlines delivered news that our students have a new place to land, literally. Being the first HBCU that Southwest Airlines is partnering with shows the depth of talent we have in our Professional Pilot students. I want to thank our university leadership for allowing our Aviation Program to grow to unforeseen heights. The best is still yet to come from Texas Southern University Aviation.” More details about Destination 225° and the program’s training and flying partners are available at careers.southwestair.com/D225. For more information about TSU’s Aviation program, visit transportation.tsu.edu. ### PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, TSU President (left), and Lee Kinnebrew, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Flight Operations, react after signing the agreement representing TSU as the first HBCU university partner with Southwest’s Destination 225° pilot recruitment program. ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 7.500 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college. ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world’s most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2021, Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its nearly 54,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among as many as 130 million Customers carried a year. That formula for success has brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest continues to develop tangible steps toward an environmental sustainability goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Learn more at Southwest.com/citizenship about how Southwest Airlines leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
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