Chicago's Mentoring Mission /Project AMPLiFI Students Make An In-Depth Visit To Boeing St. Louis in March

In March, Students from Mentoring Mission’s Project AMPLiFI spent a morning inside Boeing St. Louis, gaining the kind of access that most high school students never experience. The students have been taking classes in Airline Maintenance after school at Veterans Airport in Marian, Illinois, facilitated by Mentoring Mission non-profit, based in Chicago.

The Boeing visit was coordinated by Monique N. Bynum, Senior Community Investor/Education Relations for Boeing’s Central Region, with support from Josh Cummins, PhD, Boeing Flight Test Safety Senior Manager – Military Programs and Mentoring Mission board member, in partnership with Carol Valentino‑Barry, Executive Director of Mentoring Mission and lead instructor for Project AMPLiFI, giving students direct exposure to the people and processes that drive the aviation industry.

The experience began inside Boeing’s James S. McDonnell Prologue Room, a museum that traces the company’s aviation and aerospace legacy. Students moved through displays featuring historic aircraft models, space capsules, and engineering milestones that shaped modern aviation. For AMPLiFI students who have been studying safety, systems, and technical pathways, the museum offered a deeper understanding of the industry they are preparing to enter.

From there, students transitioned into a hands-on robotics build in Boeing's Makerspace. Working in small teams, they assembled and tested a compact robot, troubleshooting wiring, alignment, and movement. The room carried the energy of a real shop environment—focused, collaborative, and fast-paced. Boeing staff circulated among the teams, answering questions with the respect and directness reserved for emerging professionals.

The visit concluded with a candid panel discussion featuring Dr. Josh Cummins, Monique Bynum, and additional Boeing professionals. Students asked about safety culture, training pathways, apprenticeships, and the wide range of roles that support Boeing’s operations. The panelists responded with clarity and honesty, offering students a realistic view of the expectations and opportunities within the aviation industry.

Families made meaningful commitments to participate. Robert Knapp, whose son Levi is a sophomore at Pinckneyville High School, emphasized the value of the experience.

“The drive from Pinckneyville was worth it. Boeing showed Levi what’s possible and treated him like someone with a real future in this field,” said Robert Knapp.

Students echoed the value of the visit. Wyatte Claar, a junior at Marion High School and a second year AMPLiFI student, described how the experience built on his existing technical foundation.

“Boeing gave us a clear look at the work behind aviation. The build and the panel added a new layer to what I’ve been learning in AMPLiFI,” said Claar.

Carol Valentino-Barry said: “For Project AMPLiFI, the visit represents the kind of industry partnership that turns preparation into possibility. For students from Southern Illinois, a morning inside Boeing isn’t just a visit — it’s a step toward what comes next.”

Contact:

Carol Valentino-Barry, Executive Director

Mentoring Mission / Project AMPLiFI

www.mentoringmission.org

carolvalentinobarry@gmail.com