Mobile AeroFest organizers, joined by Mayor Sandy Stimpson and leaders from the local education community, have announced a new slate of classroom programming that will bring decorated military veterans and professional athletes directly into area schools this spring. The initiative is part of AeroFest’s broader effort to build lasting ties between military service members and the Mobile community, ahead of the festival’s inaugural event.
The school programming, organized in partnership with Mayor Stimpson’s office and area schools, is scheduled for March 18 and 19. Participating schools include St. Mary’s Catholic School, St. Mary’s Home and Prichard Preparatory School. Students at those campuses will hear from Shannon Lee of the Bruce Lee Foundation, members of Team Froglogic, representatives of the Saluting America School Program, and fighters from Titan FC.
“One of the most exciting things about the Mobile AeroFest is that it is designed to be a permanent campaign to bring the best of our city and region together to improve people’s lives and make a difference,” Mayor Stimpson said. “We are very energized about the prospect of bringing some of our nation’s greatest heroes, leaders and athletes to our classrooms to make a positive impact in the lives of children.”
Mobile AeroFest Co-Founder Dave Glassman said the classroom visits reflect the festival’s larger mission of connecting diverse community resources in support of veterans. “Mobile AeroFest is a dynamic platform that involves bringing together diverse communities and resources to support veterans and serve our community,” Glassman said. “We are fortunate to have such an impressive array of nationally recognized leaders and athletes who have offered to come forward to shape the lives of young people in our area — this programming provides an excellent prelude to the personal development and educational resources we will be offering at the AeroFest each year.”
Shannon Lee, daughter of martial arts icon Bruce Lee, will lead sessions tied to the Bruce Lee Foundation, where she serves as president of the board of directors. Lee is also chief executive of Bruce Lee Enterprises and of Leeway Media, a production company, and regularly speaks at schools and educational organizations around the world. The Bruce Lee Foundation, a California-based nonprofit, works to preserve and share Bruce Lee’s philosophy and martial arts legacy through events, educational programs and instruction in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do.
The Saluting America School Program, founded by Medal of Honor recipient Col. “Doc” Ballard, gives teachers tools to build classroom activities centered on patriotism and the sacrifices made by active-duty service members and veterans. Students who take part complete a Tribute Card recognizing those who serve, and the program is funded through foundation grants, corporate sponsorships and volunteer support.
Titan FC, a mixed martial arts organization whose COO Lex McMahon has worked to connect the MMA community with the U.S. military, will send athletes into classrooms to talk with students about self-discipline, self-respect and respect for others. The organization has previously staged events nationwide aimed at morale-building and personal development for current and former service members.
Team Froglogic will be represented by its founder, former Navy SEAL and behavioral training specialist David Rutherford. Over the past several years, Rutherford has built a following of more than 2.6 million people through motivational speaking, videos, a radio show and books rooted in lessons from more than 70 years of Navy SEAL and Underwater Demolition Team history. His Froglogic program centers on four concepts — forging self-confidence, embracing a team mentality, facing fear and living with purpose — that organizers say translate well to a classroom setting.
The classroom sessions serve as a lead-in to the larger Mobile AeroFest, a multi-day festival planned for March 20-21 at the Mobile Aeroplex. Organizers describe the event’s mission as improving the lives of wounded veterans by combining entertainment, technology and community outreach in a large-scale public event. The classroom initiative gives students an early look at the festival’s veteran-focused mission before the public event takes place.