Suffolk Reporter

Third-grade students at Tangier Smith Elementary School had an interactive session with Luke Zadrazil, a college freshman at Averett University in Danville, Virginia, who is studying to become a certified flight instructor and a commercial airline pilot. The meeting took place via Zoom and involved students from Mrs. Caitlin Contes and Ms. Michelle Montalbano's class.

Luke is the son of Ms. Chanda Zadrazil, the school's STEM teacher. During the virtual call, Luke responded to several queries from students, encouraging them to follow their aspirations, which could eventually become their professions. Students asked questions such as, “Why did you choose to become a pilot?” and “What do you like about your college?”

Luke explained that his interest in flying developed in high school when he had the opportunity to speak with a pilot, realizing that his passion could translate into a career. Ms. Montalbano suggested that Luke might have similarly inspired some of the third-graders. Although he has not flown with his mother yet, Luke hopes to do so during the upcoming summer, with students planning to write persuasive letters to encourage the flight.

Luke expressed his enjoyment of flying over Long Island, highlighting the scenic sunsets over the water. He recounted how he once flew over the school while his mother watched from below. His current studies include learning to fly through clouds, integrating science into his training. Luke appreciates the personalized attention offered by his smaller college and values the practical application of his classroom learning in aviation.