In a spirited show of community support, the Department of Aviation joined forces with leaders from the ATL Aviation Education Advisory Committee to welcome students back to school across metro Atlanta on Monday morning.
As part of the airport’s ongoing commitment to education and community engagement, dozens of airport professionals volunteered as greeters at five Aviation Education Partner Schools: Crawford Long Middle School, Morrow High School, Pebblebrook High School, Lithonia High School, and The Promise Career Institute. Arriving just after sunrise, the team brought warm smiles, encouraging words, and school supplies in tow.
The initiative, which supports the 2025–2026 school year kickoff, reflects ATL’s broader mission to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals—starting with the first bell.
“There’s no better way to support our youth than by showing up,” said Tracy Gilbert, Director of Community Affairs. “Our presence lets students know that ATL believes in their future and is invested in their success from day one. It’s about more than school supplies—it’s about planting seeds of encouragement and possibility.”
The Department of Aviation collected and packed hundreds of donated school supplies in the weeks leading up to the event, thanks to contributions from airport staff and partners. With backpacks and care packages in hand, airport volunteers fanned out across the city to make the first day a little brighter for students walking into their new school year.
This activation is one of many outreach efforts championed by the Department of Aviation and its Aviation Education program, which works year-round to expose students to career pathways in aviation and connect them to mentorship and opportunity.
As students settle into their classrooms, ATL continues its mission: not only to move people and planes—but to lift communities, one school at a time.
