Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Fernkas inspires Chancellor High School female athletes to aim higher

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Fernkas inspires Chancellor High School female athletes to aim higher

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dana Fernkas recounts that she was still trying to find her path in life when the world was thrown into turmoil following the September 11 attacks in New York. “During my second year of college, I dropped my major with no replacement in mind. In the wake of 9/11, I decided it was time to contribute to a bigger picture and enlisted into the Air Force,” Fernkas said. “Since then, it’s been engrained in me that learning and development is always a continuous process that’s never finished, and you should also try to inspire those…
Albuquerque High School welcomes Staff Sgt. to discuss Air Force experiences, opportunities 

Albuquerque High School welcomes Staff Sgt. to discuss Air Force experiences, opportunities 

Student athletes from Albuquerque High School’s football, boys basketball, girls basketball, and volleyball teams recently met with Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Dayanghirang to hear about her experiences in the U.S. Air Force and the opportunities that come with a career in the military. “I think it is important for high school students of all genders to see as many post-high school options as possible,” said Chad Jones, athletic director at Albuquerque High School in Albuquerque, N.M. “Knowing that the Air Force presenters would be female, I made sure that I invited boys’ teams as well. I think it’s important…
Air Force Master Sgt. Miller inspires Rock Canyon High School female athletes to soar in their careers

Air Force Master Sgt. Miller inspires Rock Canyon High School female athletes to soar in their careers

Master Sgt. Lisa Miller recently visited female student athletes from Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., to discuss the benefits and opportunities afforded through a career in the U.S. Air Force. Miller presented her career story to members of the school’s volleyball, cheerleading, and soccer teams, sharing her reasons for joining and the positive experiences she has had over her 17 years in service. “I decided to join the Air Force after not really wanting to go to college but wanting to get out of my hometown and make something of myself,” she said. “The Air Force has…
From immigrant to the Air Force: Staff Sgt. empowers future female leaders at Moriarty High School

From immigrant to the Air Force: Staff Sgt. empowers future female leaders at Moriarty High School

Immigrating to the United States at 11 years old, Air Force Staff Sgt. Michelle Dayanghirang felt a call to military service in gratitude of everything the country had provided her and her family. “As a young immigrant from the Philippines at 11 years old, I was grateful to step into this country and experience the many benefits it has offered me over the years: education, healthcare, job opportunities and freedom,” she said. “I wanted to give back to the country by serving and be a part of the many citizens who keep this nation as the land of the free.”…
Empowering Oak Hill High School female athletes: Air Force opportunity ignites inspiration

Empowering Oak Hill High School female athletes: Air Force opportunity ignites inspiration

Female athletes at Oak Hill High School in Wales, Maine, were recently treated to an inspiring visit from 2nd Lt. Aeris Butler, a Space Force Officer and Admissions Advisor for the U.S. Air Force Academy, aimed at sparking curiosity among young women about career opportunities in the Air Force. Butler, a 2023 graduate of the Air Force Academy, shared insights into her journey and the benefits of military service. “I made the decision to join the Air Force because I really wanted the benefits that came along with it. I did not have the means to pay full tuition at a college, so…
"U.S. Air Force Strength Meets St. Paul Harding High Mat: Tech. Sgt. Shares Leadership Lessons with Female Wrestlers"

"U.S. Air Force Strength Meets St. Paul Harding High Mat: Tech. Sgt. Shares Leadership Lessons with Female Wrestlers"

After nearly 10 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Tech. Sgt. Melissa Davis says the experience has made her capable of handling anything that gets thrown at her. “I initially joined just for school and only wanted to do a four-year contact,” Davis said. “[But] I have stayed as long as I have in the Air Force as it has pushed me so much more than I could ever imagine as a person. I honestly wouldn’t be the person I am today without the Air Force. From a shy and reserved high school girl, to becoming a subject…
Air Force Tech Sgt. empowers Park High School female athletes, shatters stereotypes for women in military

Air Force Tech Sgt. empowers Park High School female athletes, shatters stereotypes for women in military

Tech Sgt. Mary Quattlebaum said her time in the U.S. Air Force has positively impacted her personal growth, leadership, sense of purpose, and camaraderie and now she shares her journey to military service with students across the country. Quattlebaum, who has been in the Air Force for 14 years, made the decision to join at 21 years old because she wanted to be a part of something bigger than herself. “Both of my parents served in the Air Force,” she said. “My father made the military his career, and I always looked up to him. I always enjoyed the military…
Senior Airman dispels myth that military service is “too manly” for female athletes at Monticello High School

Senior Airman dispels myth that military service is “too manly” for female athletes at Monticello High School

In the world of uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Senior Airman Lindsay Knepp, who graduated high school in 2020, said that having a stable job in the Air Force where she could continue to learn and have her college education covered was an invaluable advantage. “I’ve had the opportunity to do things and see things I never would have if I had taken the traditional college route,” Knepp said. “Overall, my time in the Air Force has profoundly impacted me personally and professionally, shaping me into the person I am today.” Knepp recently met with female student athletes from the…
College Athlete-turned-Airman speaks to Cleveland High School student leaders about Air Force opportunities 

College Athlete-turned-Airman speaks to Cleveland High School student leaders about Air Force opportunities 

A life-long athlete, Marisa Quinones felt lost and confused when she decided to quit college soccer but was encouraged by an introduction to the New Mexico Air National Guard. Quinones, now an Airman/E2 with the 150th Force Support Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, loved the idea of serving her country while still residing in her home state and now shares her journey to military service with high school students throughout the country. “The underrepresentation of women in the Air Force and the armed forces generally is a complex problem that is a reflection of larger societal issues and attitudes,” she…
Charting New Heights: 2nd Lt. Gardner shares Air Force opportunities for young women at Mansfield High School 

Charting New Heights: 2nd Lt. Gardner shares Air Force opportunities for young women at Mansfield High School 

The Air Force is not just a man’s world and 2nd Lt. Alexandra Gardner recently visited Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Ohio, to discuss the many opportunities the military has to offer for young women. “The current challenges of underrepresentation of women in the Air Force are lack of diversity of thought, and a deficiency of being in touch with empathy,” Gardner said. “I believe that having partnerships with high schools will show youth that there is no ideal military woman. Women in the military are not defined by the military, we are all unique and possess valuable traits that are…