A new chapter of experiential learning is officially taking off at Fountain Valley School, thanks to a powerful collaboration between the St. Vrain School District and former faculty member Steve Kerchner. This winter, FVS welcomed three professional-grade flight simulators to campus, opening the door for students to explore aviation through hands-on, real-world learning.

For Steve, aviation has always been more than a hobby. It’s been a lifelong passion and a powerful educational force. During his years teaching science and math at Fountain Valley, Steve also pursued his pilot’s license, made possible in part through an FVS Cole Family Grant that helped offset flight training costs. That experience stayed with him, shaping not only his own life, but his belief in what aviation education can do for students.

“Aviation changed my life,” Steve shared. “I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but it opened doors I never expected. I’ve seen it do the same thing for students, giving them confidence, purpose, and a sense of possibility.”

For FVS students like Nat Barrett ’26, that sense of possibility is already taking hold.

“I got to try out and see what it’s like to be in the sky and to control an airplane, which was just pretty fantastic. I’ve never done it before, so it’s just an awesome new experience.”

That first experience behind the controls sparked new ideas for Nat, who plans to study nuclear engineering in college.

“Now I’m thinking about actually getting my aviation license, because the hours that I spend on the simulator do count toward the hours needed for the license, so I’m thinking about pursuing that during college.”

The flight simulators offer students a remarkably realistic experience, complete with flight controls, rudder pedals, and multi-screen displays. Students can fly solo or work together as pilot and co-pilot, practicing communication, decision-making, and collaboration, skills that extend far beyond aviation. The simulators are also helping students connect classroom learning to real-world applications across science and engineering.

Just as important as the equipment itself is the community forming around it.

Alongside the simulator launch, FVS is building an Aviation Advisory Group made up of alumni who have gone on to careers across aviation and aerospace. The group brings together an extraordinary range of experience, from helicopter air ambulance pilots and commercial airline captains to military aviators, aerospace engineers, and drone specialists.

Among them is Jessica Meiris ’00, a helicopter air ambulance pilot based in southern Colorado who began flight training later in life after years as a professional mountain guide. Alan Longhini ’06 is an aerospace engineer whose work spans Airbus, Bombardier, and Amazon Prime Air’s drone delivery program. Capt. Trace “FIDO” Tomme ’11, a U.S. Marine Corps jet pilot and instructor, brings experience flying F/A-18 Hornets around the world. Nick Carter ’13, now a Challenger 300 captain in business aviation, credits aviation with turning curiosity into a lifelong calling. Nick has been has been coming to campus from Boulder to teach students how to use the simulator. Lt. Col. Brennan “Kramer” Jones ’05, an Air Force aircraft commander, adds deep leadership and safety expertise from decades of service.

The goal is to help students see the breadth of opportunities aviation touches... engineering, physics, technology, leadership, design, teamwork, and problem-solving. The simulators also align naturally with FVS’s capstone and leadership-focused learning, offering students real-world challenges that reward curiosity and collaboration.

“Sometimes all it takes is one moment,” Steve said. “One experience. One chance to see what’s possible.”

With the simulators now on campus, the generous support of the St. Vrain School District, and a passionate group of alumni ready to mentor, advise, and inspire, that moment is closer than ever for FVS students.

Alumni interested in aviation, or simply excited about supporting this growing initiative, are encouraged to get involved. To learn more or join the FVS Aviation Advisory Group, contact Steve Kerchner at skerchner17@gmail.com.

From the prairie to the skies, Fountain Valley School is once again proving that learning doesn’t stay grounded.