Cessna will donate five new, custom-branded Skyhawk 172 airplanes to college programs early next year, the company announced on Monday. The five airplanes will go to Eastern Kentucky University, Ohio State University, Auburn University (in Alabama), Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and Louisiana Tech University. “These universities are renowned for their innovative aviation programs and we are confident they will represent the Top Hawk program and Cessna brand very well,” said Doug May, Cessna vice president for piston aircraft. “We will work together to provide students state-of-the art resources and empower them to choose a rewarding career in aviation.”
Cessna’s Top Hawk program also provides summer internships at Textron Aviation for the top student from each of the five universities. Garmin and Bose also donate products to the program, providing headsets, cameras, a G1000 database subscription and avionics for the airplanes. The five Skyhawks will be delivered early next year, Cessna said.
