WS Chronicle

TEVIN STINSON 

THE CHRONICLE  

When you think about summer camp, most people’s minds automatically go to camps that focus on sports or sharpening skills kids have already learned. But not all camps are the same, and the Jim Shaw ACE Academy Summer Camp is unlike any camp you’ve probably ever seen.  

During the weeklong camp held at the Forsyth Tech Maize Woodruff Aviation Technology Center, middle and high school students can learn about career possibilities in aviation. ACE (Aviation Career Education) Academies are sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Education Division of Aviation. The local ACE Academy was started by its namesake James ‘Jim’ Shaw Sr., who served as airport commissioner for several years.  

Shaw was known throughout the community as an entrepreneur, but even more for his dedication to uplifting those in need, and the ACE Academy was his pride and joy. Other ACE Academy camps across the state cost more than $300 to attend, but the Jim Shaw ACE Academy Summer Camps is half that cost, making it affordable to ensure students from low-income households have an opportunity to attend.  

Shaw died in 2020, but his family has stepped in and kept the camp going. First his son, Jim Shaw Jr., stepped up to the plate, and now Shaw’s granddaughter, Alexandria Shaw is continuing the legacy. “My dad followed him when he died, and now I find myself in the same position. I just want to continue his legacy and keep this thing going for a while and really give these kids an opportunity,” said Shaw during an interview with The Chronicle in 2023. 

This year more than 40 middle schoolers attended the camp. Throughout the week campers had the opportunity to fly drones, work on aircraft, and take field trips to aviation-centric businesses. Campers also had a visit from Tavis Garlington, a former camper who is now a commercial pilot. Garlington, a graduate of Hampton University and a pilot for Endeavor Air, said the Jim Shaw ACE Academy is what put him on his career path.  

As a sixth grader, Garlington admits the camp wasn’t something he was interested in at first, but after the last day of camp he knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up and that’s exactly what he did.  

“I didn’t want to come originally; my mother made me go. I wasn’t a big fan of waking up at seven o’clock in the morning during the summer. All I wanted to do was play football. But she made me come and I’m glad I did. I learned a lot about aviation, and it introduced me to a world that I didn’t think of at all,” Garlington continued. “We got to do the discovery flight on the last day and that’s what got me hooked on flying. I got that flying bug and just couldn’t stop.”  

Just like Garlington did on his last day of camp, last Friday middle schoolers also took discovery flights. Each flight was about eight minutes, and many of the campers had the opportunity to serve as co-pilots, hopefully inspiring some to follow in Garlington’s footsteps and helping to keep Jim Shaw’s dream alive.  

The high schoolers are expected to attend camp this week and will take their discovery flight on Friday, June 20.  

For more information on the Jim Shaw ACE Academy visit www.jimshawacademy.com.