WAMA Tool Box Award Program List of Participating Schools: Aviation High School Teterboro School of Aeronautics Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians

WAMA Tool Box Award Winners

Congratulations to our 2008 Tool Box winners!
Read about this year's winners:

Alina Rizvi
Aviation High School

My Career in Aviation
My career in Aviation has been more like a journey. It all started approximately five years ago when I took my first steps into Aviation High School. On the first day I was nervous, confused, worried, and it didn’t help the fact that I seemed to be shorter than most of the student population but all that didn’t seem to matter because as I walked around and I saw the planes in the hangar and all the amazing shops around the corner, I knew that there was nothing to worry about because I had made the right decision.

Although my career may have started at Aviation high school but my passion has been 18 years in the making. As a child I always looked to the sky not to wish upon a star, but in hopes of seeing an airplane. I always wanted to know how an airplane worked and when I looked to the sky for answers, instead I was left with more questions. I wanted to know anything and everything there was to know. So when it finally came time to pick high schools, I wasn’t stressing like my fellow classmates I knew exactly where I wanted to go. I didn’t know much about the school it self but I just knew that if they had a hangar full of airplanes they might also teach me a little something and hopefully be able to satisfy a long time dream.

At Aviation high school from the first day on I have been able to learn a lot of thing that many high school students aren’t fortunate enough to be taught. I have been able to answer all those questions from years past. Going from shop to shop learning about different parts of a plane and how they work and how I can be the one to repair them has just made me more passionate. Learning so much in such a short time wasn’t easy, it took a lot of effort from both me and the people teaching me. But besides from all the knowledge that I gained in my five years at Aviation I also learned leadership, by taking charge of the classroom numerous times as class foreman, I also learned responsibility by maintaining above average grades in both my academic and shop classes, and most importantly I learned that with hard work and passion dreams can come true.

The wise Confucius once said;" The expectations of life depend on diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools." Every day of my career I have applied this ideology to the work that I have accomplished with pride. A toolbox, to any Aviation High School student is a testament to their hard worked journey and a symbol to their success, my success.

Aviation high school was just the start of my success, next year I will start as a junior at The Pennsylvania College of Technology with my A&P licenses, and will continue to study Aviation with a concentration in Avionics. And hopefully while receiving my bachelor’s degree I will begin working in the aviation field, with the use of my toolbox I can continue to pursue my dream and become the best technician I can possible be and save money as I go along. I also hope to one day, if I’m lucky, have my own successful airline, so that when I look to the sky I can say there goes my airplane and thus enlighten another young mind to pursue Aviation because it truly would be a decision they won’t regret.

If you can help make my dream possible with the contribution of a toolbox, I would be forever grateful. It would allow me to put my skills to use for the benefit of the industry and therefore influence the future and world of aviation. Please be confident that I will not disappoint you and I will uphold your reputation and cherish your contribution. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Anthony Colandrea
Teterboro School of Aeronautics

Born in Rockland county New York in July of 1964 , Anthony graduated from Spring Valley high in 82. He immediately started serving in the USMC, and was honorably discharged in 88 to work in the family business. He became a husband in 91 and a father is 93.

In 1972, I boarded a 727 in New York bound for Orlando for the first time. They say that you know what you are going to be at a very early age. Getting to that point will take some years. Having accomplished a lot and taking care of the responsibilities that come along with a life, I'm now am able to devote myself fully to aviation. I'm able to meet the demands of a demanding field. School never will end or let out; there are always cutting edge technological breakthroughs that will have to be studied and applied. I hope to meet that edge to sharpen it. I want to develop and further the advances of Aeronautics. Thanks to Teterboro School of Aeronautics, I have already started my career working with Air Concepts International, a Certified Repair Station at Teterboro Airport. I'm doing authorized modifications on Augusta 139 Helicopters to suit the needs of corporate aviation. With 30 hours logged in rotorcraft flight, I am in pursuit of a rating.

Wayne Lambert
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica where I grew up and did most of my schooling. I migrated to the United States in my late teens and finished high school in the summer of 1998 at Prospect Heights High. I proceeded to a two year Airframe and Powerplant certification program which at the time also included an academic degree program; I was enrolled in the Aviation Maintenance Degree program, at the College of Aeronautics. Three semesters later I joined the United States Army, and I served for seven years. During my seven years in the military, I was stationed in Colorado, Germany and Watertown, New York, and I served in both Kosovo and Iraq for a year each. After leaving the military I re-enrolled in The Vaughn College of Aeronautics A&P certification program in January of 2007. Currently I lived with my wife Veneckia of five years, who is an English Major at Medgar Evers College. I will complete my oral and practical exams for my general, airframe and powerplant, and my written exam for powerplant in the summer of 2008.

My Career in Aviation
After I graduated high school like most young people, I needed direction and a purpose in my life. I gained a slight interest in aircraft and decided to enter the field, it became evident later that I had made a good choice and developed a considerable amount of passion for Aviation.
When I started the A&P program at the College of Aeronautics I enjoyed learning about all the parts of an aircraft and all the systems that make them work and aid in flying. However I myself felt limited, in that I had no real hands on experience with airplanes nor did I work near or around them as most of my classmates did. Most them either worked baggage for major airlines or did other jobs related to aircraft. This and other reasons at home pressed me to seek and more in my life. After three semesters I joined the United States Army, I signed a contract for 6 years and a job as a Helicopter Repairer for the Army’s OH-58D helicopter made by Bell. Also Included in my contract was money for college as I have always plan to return to and finish college.
In training I learned about all the components, how to exclusively use the maintenance and service manuals to troubleshoot, repair, remove and replace parts, and service the aircraft. I graduated the training program at the top of my class, and went on to my first duty station in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Shortly after I was in a maintenance company my duties included the major repair of, and major component changes of the helicopter. These repairs were not limited to engine, transmission nor main rotor hub and blades. Later I moved to Schweinfurt, Germany where I performed the same duties. While in Germany, I volunteered to serve in a peace time mission in Kosovo performing the same repairs of which I became very proficient. After Germany I went to Watertown, New York where I became the crew chief of an aircraft. I now had more responsibilities which included maintaining and updating logbooks, performing preventive and schedule maintenance and supervising other members of my unit. I went to Iraq for a year, performing the same tasks. Shortly after Iraq I was honorable discharge from the military, and I re enrolled in college.
My career in aviation is far from over. With the completion of my A&P I plan to work in the field, and pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in the field. I have enjoyed the experience and I look forward to more.

Chris Malchisky
Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians

My name is Chris Malchisky I was born on Sept. 19 1989 in Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport CT. I live in Stratford CT and have lived here my whole life. When I was younger I lived in a small house with my mom, dad, aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandmother. We also had 3 dogs and 2 cats. When I was 7 my parents got divorced and my mom moved out to go live with her new husband, a few years later my dad also got remarried and moved upstate to Danbury with his wife. To be able to see both of them equally I switched houses every other week. I went to Bunnell High School and graduated last year in 2007. Upon graduating I still had no idea what I wanted to do for a living but then over the summer I came to an open house and I decided to attend the Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians and I believe it was the best decision I could have made.

My interest in aviation began when I was younger and me and my grandfather built model airplanes together then when I became older we went to the model airplane nationals in Muncie, Indiana where I won the national championship in hand launch glider. After that day I pretty much decided that I wanted to work on real planes when I was older. I have been extremely mechanically inclined my whole life and when I discovered the aviation maintenance field I was excited to see I would be able to put my interest in mechanics and aviation together in one career. After I graduated from high school in 2007 I started to attend S.S.A.M.T. It is a decision that I will never regret.