Over 500,000 fifth graders across the country have had the opportunity to “adopt” a Pilot, through Southwest Airlines award winning Adopt-A-Pilot program

Do you or your children have memories of a Southwest Pilot visiting your fifth-grade class with engaging games and life lessons about the five forces of flight? Or maybe even how time zones work?
Southwest First Officer Joe does, because his fifth-grade classroom “adopted” Captain Rick, the man standing next time him. Now, First Officer Joe is a Southwest Pilot who has been adopted by a fifth grade classroom, serving students as the same role model he looked up to as a kid.

In fact, over 500,000 fifth graders across the country have had the opportunity to “adopt” a Pilot, through our award winning Adopt-A-Pilot program. This year, we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Program that has impacted the lives of more than half a million fifth graders and nearly 14,000 volunteer Southwest Pilots in classrooms across the country.

To celebrate, we invited fifth graders from a local elementary school to join us at our HDQ as we unveiled a decaled aircraft dedicated to the Pilots and students who have been a part of the Program in the last quarter century.

Not only were the students surprised with the decaled aircraft, but also with a $10,000 donation we’re making to their school to procure supplies for science, technology, engineering, and other STEM education. We can’t wait for this generation of aviators to take flight! #SouthwestHeart
See more information at www.southwest.com/help/other/adopt-a-pilot

Images: © Southwest Airlines