The 2024 FuturePREP’D and IChallengeU summer programs successfully concluded at West Michigan Regional Airport! Students volunteered for these programs and chose to work with West Michigan Regional Airport as a business partner. Our students had the opportunity to engage in educational experiences with various professionals, including members of the Coast Guard, corporate pilots, and WMRA’s marketing and engineering teams. The most notable opportunity was an inflight experience with 4 One Air!
Throughout the program, the students tackled two critical marketing “driving questions”:
“How can WMRA create an engaging and growing social media platform?”
“How can WMRA increase airport event attendance?”
These questions guided their projects and activities, allowing them to research the business aspects of airport management and marketing. Our staff had the opportunity to learn from student perspectives and ideas while students gained career-ready skills.
To address these questions, the students participated in a range of hands-on experiences, activities, discussions and teamwork. They explored what marketing means to them, the airport, and our stakeholders while focusing on content creation, marketing strategies and community engagement.
The conclusion of their efforts was a final presentation, where the students shared their insights and proposed solutions. Their presentations highlighted their understanding of the airport’s status and their vision for its future. Their innovative ideas and fresh perspectives provided valuable input for WMRA’s ongoing marketing and event planning efforts.
We are incredibly proud of the dedication and creativity shown by our FuturePREP’D and IChallengeU students. Their contributions have not only enriched their own learning experiences but have also provided WMRA with actionable strategies to enhance our social media presence and event attendance. We look forward to implementing some of the students’ ideas and continuing to foster educational opportunities at WMRA!
