Adopt-A-Pilot Program:
Fifth-grade classes in each of Southwest Airlines’ destination cities “adopt” their own Southwest Airlines Pilot for a four-week educational and mentorship program.

Program Objective:
“Adopted” Pilots mentor students and communicate a key message: education is important in reaching personal goals. Adopt-A-Pilot inspires kids to real world thinking.

Educational Curriculum:
Curriculum covers geography, math, science, civics, history, aviation, creative writing, computer technologies, and research skills– developed in cooperation with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and professional education consultants.

Incorporation of Technology:
Online version of the program reaches outlying schools nationwide with "virtual Pilot;" classes communicate with their “adopted” Pilots through e-mail; students research geographical and historical information about cities where their Pilots fly.

First Introduced:
September 1997; Inaugurated in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education’s “America Goes Back to School” effort.

Number of Students Involved This Year:
More than 34,000 (more than 1,350 classrooms coast to coast)

Number of Students Involved Since ‘97:
More than 280,000 students nationwide

Number of Pilots Who Volunteer Each Year:
More than 780 Southwest Airlines Pilots

Program Acknowledgments:
First Lady Laura Bush; Secretary of State Colin Powell/America’s Promise; Former President Bill Clinton; Former Secretary of Education William Riley; Former Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater; Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Awards:
2008 - Nominated, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Center Community Relations program of the Year
2006 – Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Award of Excellence in Community Relations Business/Services
2003 - Telly Award Finalist honoring outstanding non-broadcast video productions – presented to the Adopt-A-Pilot classroom video
2002 – Katie Award presented by Press Club of Dallas – Most Outstanding Media Relations Campaign
2001 – Commendation from First Lady Laura Bush recognizing Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot program 2000 – Golden Bell Public Relations Competition Platinum Award – Most outstanding entry in the airline category
2000 – School to Career Honor Roll Awards Most Innovative Program presented by the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce.
1998 – Golden Spike Awards Bronze Award