

Get the latest local airport and aviation news delivered right into your inbox each week!

On April 17, Wilson Technological Center celebrated the Class of 2026’s achievements at the Aviation Maintenance Technology Recognition Ceremony, held at the Western Suffolk BOCES Republic Aviation campus in Farmingdale.
Wilson Tech’s 1,910-hour Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program prepares students to become FAA-certified Airframe and Powerplant technicians in an extensive, state-of-the-art hangar where they gain hands-on experience under FAA-certified instructors.

The ceremony began with Diana Santiago, Executive Director of Career & Technical Education, and Lisa Romanowski, Principal, welcoming and introducing the program to a standing-room-only crowd of attendees and guests.
Following a heartfelt address by the keynote speaker, Andrea Adragna (Chief Inspector of Northeastern Aviation & SMC Aviation), and student speakers Jason Bustillo and Mark Fraser, student awards were announced and presented, followed by the presentation of certificates to each of the 22 proud AMT graduates.

Julia Lauria-Blum earned a degree in the Visual Arts at SUNY New Paltz. An early interest in women aviation pioneers led her to research the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WW II. In 2001 she curated the permanent WASP exhibit at the American Airpower Museum (AAM) in Farmingdale, NY, and later curated 'Women Who Brought the War Home, Women War Correspondents, WWII’ at the AAM. Julia is the former curatorial assistant at the Cradle of Aviation Museum and is currently an editor for Metropolitan Airport News.