FirstEnergy Volunteers Help STEM Dreams Taxi Toward Takeoff

Growing up in a family of pilots, Stephanie Childress was destined to take to the skies. Nearly 25 years into her aviation career, her passion for flying remains as strong as ever.

“I always knew I wanted to be a pilot. It’s become so much more than a profession and even more than a hobby. It's kind of an obsession,” Childress said.

As one of FirstEnergy’s corporate aircraft pilots, Childress helps employees travel across the company’s service area and beyond to conduct business. On weekends and days off, she’s often airborne in her personal aircraft, flying with family and embracing the freedom of the open skies.

“When I take off in a small airplane, it's almost like leaving the world behind. Stress melts away. It's a transformative experience. You get a feeling of freedom, and it opens up your world,” Childress said.

FirstEnergy Volunteers in Action

Each year, her colleagues get to see her passion first-hand at the Props & Pistons Festival, when they help prepare the Akron Fulton Airport to ignite with excitement and possibility through aerobatic air shows, vintage aircraft displays, helicopter rides and a wide range of family-friendly activities.

This year, more than two dozen FirstEnergy employees pitched in to make the Props and Pistons festival a success— setting up fencing, assembling tents, and welcoming visitors to the exhibits.

Watch a video about the impact of FirstEnergy volunteers at this year’s festival.

“You can’t put on events like this without volunteers,” Childress said. “Their help is so appreciated, and it makes a lasting impact on the community.”

This year’s festival featured a fly-in hosted by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), drawing attendees from across the country and making it one of the largest Props & Pistons events to date.

Fueling STEM Futures

A local nonprofit called Inspire Aviation organizes the annual festival to raise funds and fuel aviation and STEM learning opportunities for students in the greater Akron community. One of the organization’s standout initiatives, Pilot for a Day, gives students an unforgettable opportunity to step into the shoes of a pilot— learning how planes work, planning a flight route and even getting behind the controls in a flight simulator. The organization also honors veterans through events that link military service with aviation education, inspiring youth with powerful stories of courage and skill.

Media Contact: Hannah Catlett