Joseph Konopinski, Morris Hills HS, receives AFA Award

Joseph Konopinski, Science Teacher, Morris Hills Regional School District, Rockaway, NJ, from Oak Ridge, NJ, was recently presented with an Air Force Association Chapter 195 Teacher of the Year Award. The award includes $500 and a complimentary Civil Air Patrol(CAP) Aerospace Education Membership which includes a free CAP Cessna orientation flight.

He has taught Physics for the past four years and, for the last three years, he has also taught courses in an Aviation and Aerospace program sponsored by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association(AOPA). According to Kevin Doyle, his supervisor, he has become the leader for aviation education in New Jersey. He has established himself as the go-to teacher in New Jersey as he is the only teacher in the state who has taught each of the three current courses in the AOPA program.

Joseph Konopinski has also applied for and won two AOPA scholarships: (1) for a pilot’s license, and (2) to become a Certified Flight Instructor. He applied for them to become more effective as an aviation teacher.

The Morris Hills Regional School aviation AOPA program has over 125 students currently enrolled and expects to have near 200 for the 2021-2022 school year. Joseph Konopinski’s goal is to grow enrollment and promote the program to northeast schools.

The Air Force Association educates the public on the critical role of aerospace power in our nation’s defense and supports the United States Air Force and its auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol. For more information visit web site at: https://sites.google.com/site/afa195org/ .

The Shooting Star Chapter, 195, of the Air Force Association meets monthly on the last Saturday of each month except during the months of June, July, August, November, and December. For information, contact Bill Fosina, 195 President, wfosina@verizon.net, 908-803-4949.