It's part of a new program this year that allows students to earn college credit through a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Beaufort County School District is the second in the country to offer dual-enrollment courses with the university at a high school, according to Battery Creek aviation instructor Tony Petrucci.
Students will earn both a high school elective credit and three college credits for each course.
Col. Jack Snider of Battery Creek helped arrange the partnership.
The goal: Make students college- and career-ready for positions with employers such as Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Charleston's new Boeing plant and Gulfstream's Savannah operations.
"And at the same time, we're exposing them to critical math, science and engineering skills needed to be successful in many of today's career fields," Snider said.
The first course, management for aeronautical science, teaches students about aviation careers, flying and aviation safety.
The second course, project management in aviation operations, teaches them how to manage a project from start to finish, including construction of a small wooden aircraft.
Snider said the courses are capstones to a series of engineering and aviation courses already taught at the school. Those classes are offered through Project Lead the Way, a national engineering curriculum that allows students to earn college credit.
Twelve students participated during the fall semester, and 11 are enrolled this spring.
"They've done very well," Petrucci said. "They have a thirst for it, and we keep the same standards as Embry-Riddle. It gives them a taste for college and a taste for aviation."
Already, Roberson and other students have designed a small wooden air foil that they've used as a model for computer simulations and tested in the wind tunnel.
Petrucci also offers a pilot syllabus, using the simulator to help students gain the skills they need to get a pilot's license on their own, if they choose. Next year, he hopes to offer students the ground-school equivalent to flight school, "where the only thing they would have to do is pick up the flight hours," Petrucci said.
For Roberson, the program has been "an ultimate chance" to get a leg up on college and launch his dream.
"Even if you don't go into aviation, you still get a head-start on college and learn valuable science, math and engineering skills applicable to many career fields," he said.