Growing up next to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Frank Kerous’s aviation curiosity grew higher as each airplane flew over his home. He spent time with his father listening to air traffic control on the radio, guessing where planes had been and predicting final destinations. “Whenever we took a family trip, the highlight for me was always the plane ride,” remembers Kerous. Frank began taking flying lessons at Waukegan Airport when he was 15 years old and after graduating from the University of Illinois he chose a career in aviation; now he is a pilot for Southwest Airlines.

Most recently, Kerous teamed up with Barrington High School to create an aviation club offered to all students. “This was immediately exciting because we’re always looking to provide students with new and unique opportunities that generate curiosity and help expand their individual interests,” says Dr. Heath McFaul, who is entering his seventh year as Associate Principal.

It is important to note that there are multiple facets of aviation beyond becoming a pilot. Other interests can include air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, and in-flight service, more commonly known as flight attendants. To showcase the many different avenues available in aviation careers, Kerous plans to include activities in the club such as flying an introductory flight around Chicago, touring nearby air traffic control centers, and crawling around planes being worked on in hangars. There will also be class type sessions where members will learn about pilot centric material, navigation, and weather. The club also has plans to collaborate with either a physics or math teacher in the future.

A special component of this extracurricular program is that students are exposed early on to activities that could potentially lead to careers that they might not traditionally get in a classroom setting.

“My point is to say that this is something you can do, you do not have to be a straight A student to do this work. It can be a grind during training, but it is definitely accessible,” says Kerous. There are aspirations to transform the club into a more regulated class curriculum with the opportunity to earn a private pilot’s license at the end of a few semesters. However, for now the club plans to be flying high in the fall while meeting once or twice a month.

“I love my job and I love coming home,” says Kerous. “I think that is part of why I am so passionate about this. I would like to share my experience with other people because I have had a lot of fun doing this and it is an awesome career.”