Commercial Aviation Program Receives Southwest Airlines Grant

Awarded through Southwest’s Destination 225˚ University Partner Grant Program, the funding will be used to purchase advanced aircraft engine training displays. ASU’s award also includes a special bonus: 15 round-trip airline tickets, valued at about $6,000, for students to use to attend various aviation events.

This marks the second straight year that ASU has received a Destination 225˚ University Partner Grant. In 2023, ASU was awarded $60,000 that included $50,000 to purchase a new flight simulator and $10,000 to establish a new scholarship endowment.

Scott Turner “Our partnership with Southwest Airlines has been invaluable for our program and students,” said Scott Turner, program director. “Their generous support has greatly enhanced both the academic environment and industry exposure for ASU aviation students. With several students already in the Destination 225˚ program, this collaboration provides unmatched opportunities to prepare the next generation of aviation professionals. We are deeply grateful for Southwest Airlines’ continued support and commitment to Angelo State.”

Angelo State has been a university partner in Southwest’s Destination 225˚ pilot recruitment program since August 2022. The program provides ASU commercial aviation students a defined pathway to become competitively qualified for career opportunities with Southwest Airlines.

On a compass, 225˚ is the southwest directional heading, and the Destination 225˚ program was developed to lead aspiring pilots to Southwest Airlines. ASU was just the sixth university partner to join the program in 2022.

As early as their sophomore year, ASU students in the Bachelor of Commercial Aviation (B.C.A.) – Flight Operations degree program can apply for Destination 225˚. If they are accepted and fulfill all the requirements, upon graduating from ASU they enter a career pathway toward Southwest Airlines that includes:

• Acting as ASU flight instructors for the year following their graduation
• Upon completing the flight instruction time, eligibility to be hired at one of Southwest Airlines’ partner carriers
• After building flight experience at the partner carrier, consideration for pilot positions at Southwest Airlines

The candidate students also receive ongoing mentorship from a Southwest Airlines pilot during their time at ASU and with the partner carrier.

Seth Baker of San Angelo became ASU’s first commercial aviation student to graduate through the Destination 225˚ program when he received his diploma in May 2024. For the 2024-25 academic year, 195 students enrolled in the commercial aviation program.