Miami Gardens, Fla. – The exhibits of groundbreaking Black aviators such as Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license, and Miami native Barrington Irving, the first Jamaican American and youngest to fly solo around the world, are currently on display on the campus of Florida Memorial University.

During a recent news conference, the only HBCU in South Florida unveiled “Blacks in Aviation: A Legacy Beyond the Skies,” which pays homage to African American aviation pioneers.

The museum, housed in the college’s William Lehman Aviation Center a block from Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport, features 10 Black aviators, including astronauts Mae Jemison and Guion S. Bluford Jr., the first Black astronauts to go to space.

An exhibit on the Tuskegee Airmen, including replicas of items worn by the airmen, is also featured at the new museum.

In addition, American Airlines donated $150,000 to the university to bolster its struggling aviation program in an effort to get more students to learn about the industry and become licensed pilots.

"This incredible contribution will provide our aviation students with career opportunities, internships, and pathways to employment in the aviation industry," said FMU interim President William McCormick. "Together, we’re soaring to new heights and ensuring FMU’s future aviation leaders are prepared for success."

FMU officials hope the new Black aviation pioneer museum and the donation inspire more students to study aviation and earn degrees and pilot licenses, certified by the FAA, to fly commercial and cargo jets and drones.

The program, which debuted in 1987, has been in decline over the years, as students appeared lukewarm about learning how to fly and fix aircraft, with fewer students enrolled in the program.

But instead of dropping the program, FMU decided to hire two aviation and mechanical experts to lead the program and pique students’ interest in becoming a pilot or aircraft technician.

Oneida James Rollins was named chair of the aviation and safety program and Captain Yograj S. Raghunauth is the new associate chair and chief flight instructor.

Rollins, a Chicago native, earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and joined the U.S. Navy where he became a pilot and flew on missions including across Southeast Asia. At 27 years old he became a pilot for American Airlines.

As certified commercial pilot and powerplant mechanic, Raghunauth earned a master’s degree in Aeronautics and a bachelor’s in aviation maintenance management.

He is currently working on his doctorate in aviation leadership.

The program has graduated more than 500 students since the early 1990s, with 85 percent of them securing jobs in the aviation industry To get the program rolling again, Rollins and Raghunauth plan to develop partnerships with some of the airline carriers at nearby Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport including cargo operations.

The aircraft operators can recruit students once they complete the fouryear program and help them earn their licenses and certification.

Rollins said the aviation program is a perfect fit for FMU because it’s ideally located in South Florida, which is one of the main hubs of aviation in the country.

"We have all the resources here … we have multiple airports with different categories and we have students looking for those degree programs that we are offering here," Rollins told the South Florida Times. "We have four different courses that they can take, and we also have a connection with Wayman Aviation Academy which handles our flight training."

Rollins, who earned his Navy Wings of Gold as a lieutenant, said once students earn their bachelor’s degree, it gives them the ground school training that prepares them for flight school.

Rollins said by the time they finish, they end up with a commercial license which for starters allows them to earn compensation for flying assignments.

"The key to all of this is education and certification through the FAA," he said. "So, by the time they finish, they end up with a commercial license that at a minimum allows them to get paid."

Raghunauth said his plans for FMU’s aviation program include artificial intelligence which some students already have experienced by playing video games.

"A lot of our students play video games and we want to tap into that skill and the love they have to influence them in a career that can benefit them for years to come," he said.

Raghunauth said his goal is also to get students in the airplane technician field as the aviation industry needs more mechanics.

He said FMU will start its drone program in January in which students can leave school with a drone pilot license to work in law enforcement, the film industry or the food distribution business.

Some drone careers pay as much as $95,000 a year, according to Indeed, a career guide company that helps people find jobs worldwide.

"These are some of the opportunities we are doing in terms of drones," Raghunauth said.