Willowbrook alumna makes her dream to become a pilot take flight

Pictured is Willowbrook alumna Jessica Vargas (class of 2020), who plans to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Click the video above to watch Vargas flying over Willowbrook.

When Willowbrook alumna Jessica Vargas (class of 2020) would visit her grandfather’s house growing up, she would always wander over to his garage, where nearly 100 model airplanes hung from the ceiling. She was instantly captivated, enthralled by the dangling pieces of history.

That fascination quickly grew into a devoted passion, and Vargas began taking annual road trips with her father, Jesse, to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin. When she enrolled in AeroCamp through Illinois Aviation Academy (IAA) in 2016, which allows young aviation enthusiasts to pilot an airplane, she realized it was more than just a hobby.

“When it was my turn behind the yolk of a Cessna 172, there was a smile on my face I couldn’t wipe off,” Vargas said. “Waves of excitement filled my heart as I navigated the plane through banks and turns. From the level of empowerment to the pure adrenaline rush I experienced, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life in the pilot’s seat.”

Vargas said the staff and curriculum at Willowbrook enabled her to pursue her passion. She said her algebra, engineering and Spanish classes in particular taught her practical, lifelong skills that will help her succeed on her journey. To thank Willowbrook for its support, and to say goodbye to her teachers and lift their spirits during this challenging time of dealing with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Vargas rented a Cessna 172 from the IAA and flew it over the school on May 16. Click the video above to watch her flight.

Vargas plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida to earn her bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science, as well as the certificates and ratings needed to become a professional pilot. She then wants to teach through Tuskegee NEXT, which offers premier aviation outreach programs that enable at-risk youth to obtain pilot’s licenses and start an aviation career path. Vargas graduated from that program this past summer with her Private Pilot Certificate, and she wants to give back by educating the next generation of pilots. When the Tuskegee NEXT program isn’t in session, Vargas plans to serve as a commercial pilot for a regional airline and eventually reach her ultimate dream of working as a Latina commercial airline captain for United Airlines.

According to https://tinyurl.com/y7ejpxdz, “By 2015, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that there were 140,000 persons employed as aircraft pilots, of which … 5.7% were Hispanic … Current estimates of the participation rate of women in the professional pilot vocation range from 4.3% to 6.7%, and that of minorities 18.4%, which, in comparison to the general population, indicates that there is a low level of diversity within this sector of aviation.”

“Upon learning that Latina women such as myself represent (such a small portion) of the aviation industry, working wholeheartedly toward my goal of becoming a pilot has become more meaningful in the sense I’ll be breaking down barriers and encouraging other young women to do the same.”