Nov. 21, 2008 — On Friday, Col. Caroline Adams, the first female pilot in the V.I. National Guard (VING), told students at Alexander Henderson Elementary School in Frederiksted how it feels to fly.
The more than 150 students gathered in the blue and yellow cafetorium for the assembly marking American Education Week were from kindergarten through sixth grade. The students were also treated to music and dance during the nearly two- hour program.
Adams spoke about her 29-year career in the guard as a former aviator and now a strategic planner. She has over 4,000 hours of flight time and 16 years of flight experience.
All the high-flying talk excited the students to the point they had a hard time keeping their excitement and chatter in check, so the code word for silence at the school — zero — was announced sternly a few times by the Principal Susanna Callwood-Smith.
Adams brought in models of a helicopter and airplane showing the students the difference between the two. She told how they take off and land differently. She asked the students if they knew any other differences. One student knew that a helicopter pilot wears a helmet for protection and an airplane pilot wears a headset.
A half-dozen students got the chance to come up to the microphone and ask her questions about flying.
She shared with them her four key words for success in life. They are respect, discipline, listening and a positive attitude.
"The governor's theme is 'Together we can,'" Adams said. "Obama's is 'Yes we can' and mine is 'You can'."
Samuel Ferdinand, a calypso singer also known as "Mighty Pat," performed for the students. He got the students riled up too, jumping and shouting at the top of their lungs.
Bus drivers, grass cutters and parent volunteers were honored and received certificates of appreciation at the assembly.
"These are people who serve us in a special way everyday," Callwood-Smith told the students.
During the program two students were getting instructions from Kenneth Christopher on taking pictures of the crowd and presentations.
Christopher, the legislature photographer, also received a certificate of appreciation for his volunteering as an advisor of the school's photography club.
"My hope is the students see and learn how people serve our school," Callwood-Smith said.
Several students were recognized and received certificates for perfect attendance and making the honor role. Student of the Month Maurice Parris got a gift certificate for school supplies.
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