Cotter Awarded Grant for Students in Aviation Flight Simulator

Cotter Schools is proud to announce it has been awarded a grant to support its Students in Aviation (SIA) program with the donation of a SIASim flight simulator. The simulator will significantly enhance hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in aviation careers.
The SIA program will be offered as part of the second semester courses within Cotter’s engineering and computer science course electives, expanding opportunities for students interested in flight, aeronautics, and STEM fields.

Cotter High School Principal Kate Moll expressed gratitude for the donation, noting, “We are incredibly grateful to the SIA Foundation for their investment in our students. This grant allows us to provide meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to real-world careers. Our goal is to help students see themselves as capable, future-ready innovators, and this flight simulator is a powerful tool to spark curiosity, build confidence, and open doors in STEM and aviation.” Cotter’s STEM instructor, Eric Paulsen, echoed her enthusiasm, adding, “Thanks to SIA, we now have an exciting learning tool that gives students hands-on ways to apply their STEM skills and see aviation as a possible future career.”

The grant was made possible through The SIA Foundation, Inc., a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity founded by commercial pilot and instructor Joe Canepa in 2016. The foundation is entirely volunteer-run and dedicated to advancing aviation education and opportunity in K-12 schools.

As of February 2025, the SIA Foundation has donated more than 54 simulators to schools across the United States, provided $30,000 in scholarships, and trained over 100 students through its free online ground school, all at no cost to students.

Cotter Schools joins a growing network of schools nationwide benefiting from SIA’s mission. Several former SIA students are now working in the aviation industry, and the foundation also offers full flight training scholarships for eligible students (currently in Wisconsin, with plans to expand).