[Due to an overwhelming response, registration for students has closed] 

What Can Students Expect?

• Interactive exhibits from regional employers and training programs
• Career Passport activity to guide exploration and deepen learning
• Q&A with early-career professionals from aerospace and space companies
• Opportunities to explore Industry Recognized Certificates, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, internships, and two- and four-year colleges
• Optional educator pre-briefing to connect the expo to classroom learning targets
• Lunch provided for teachers and students

How We Support Teachers

• Earn 3 STEM Clock Hours through PD Enroller (Puget Sound ESD)
• Ready-to-use pre-event materials (student prep guide, discussion prompts, teacher resources)
• Organized student flow for active engagement
• Employer directory with company info and related career pathways
• Post-event classroom resources + access to the Employer Speakers Bureau (company tours & classroom visits)

Who Should Attend?
High School and Running Start students in CTE, STEM, robotics, engineering, trades, and other career-focused programs; and any students exploring post-graduation options.

Employers and institutions from across the Kent Valley and the broader region will be on hand to showcase real career opportunities, helping students connect classroom learning with future possibilities.

Why Participate?

• Connect with your future workforce - all in one place
• Showcase your company’s innovations and exciting career pathways
• Inspire the next generation to consider aerospace and advanced manufacturing careers
• Build brand awareness with students, educators, and the community

You’ll Meet Hundreds of High School Students

You’ll meet hundreds of motivated high school students in CTE, STEM, robotics, trades, welding, automotive, and engineering programs - many are just beginning to explore their post-graduation options. You'll also connect with the educators and career counselors who support them across South King County.

Workforce Snapshot: Why This Matters

• Washington has lost nearly 20,000 manufacturing jobs since 2019; the sector hasn’t fully recovered
• Up to one-third of the workforce may retire within the next decade.
• Too few students are pursuing technical training, creating pipeline gaps just as demand is rising.
• New space and next-gen aerospace companies are growing in Washington, intensifying the need to build a strong local talent pipeline.
• Many students don’t yet know that well-paying aerospace careers can start right after high school.

Ways to Participate

Employers are encouraged to bring hands-on, interactive experiences that inspire students and make career pathways come alive.

• Host an Interactive Booth – Showcase your company with hands-on activities, demos, or prototypes that spark curiosity. Booths are flexible and designed for open engagement with students.
• Host an Occupation Station – Focus on a specific career or job role within your company. Students rotate through these stations in small groups to try tasks or explore tools while learning directly from your team.
• Bring early-career professionals who can connect with students
• Contribute prizes for the Career Passport activity
• Sponsor lunch, swag, or giveaways

Examples of Hands-On Activities

• Riveting or fastening demos
• Drone flight stations with safety cages
• 3D printing displays with aerospace parts students can handle
• PPE “suit-up” races
• Paper airplane design challenges or tabletop wind tunnel tests

Registered employers will receive a full menu of activity ideas to help them plan.

Value Beyond the Expo
When you sign up, you’ll also be invited to join the new Kent Valley Employer Speakers Bureau (opt-out anytime). This connects you with K-12 classrooms year-round — opportunities to host tours, speak at schools, and participate in future workforce events.

Event Logistics

• Setup: 8–9:45 a.m.
• Plan to bring at least 2 engaging reps, plus portable equipment, sample parts, promo flyers, and business cards. Tables and cloths provided; electricity available upon request.
• Expo open: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Pack up: 1 p.m.

Ready to Join Us?

• Employers are asked to contribute a $200 registration fee to help offset venue costs. If the fee is a barrier, let us know on your registration form — all employers who want to inspire students are welcome.
• The registration fee is waived for our Higher Education Partners, who have the option to make a donation of any amount to support the event.

Why a Registration Fee?

This is not a money-making activity - the fee simply helps cover event costs.

Delivering a first-class experience requires significant resources:

• More than $8,000 in labor just to cover the hockey ice at accesso ShoWare Center
• Additional costs for AV, staging, pipe and drape
• Meals provided for students and teachers

Your $200 fee - along with sponsorships - ensures schools and students can participate at no charge.

Any excess funds will be contributed to the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance's (PNAA) Aerospace Scholarship Fund, supporting the next generation of industry talent.

Payment Details

The PNAA is serving as our fiscal partner. When you register, you’ll be redirected to PNAA’s secure PayPal page to complete your payment.

To avoid credit card fees, employers/sponsors may request to be invoiced directly by PNAA. Simply note this preference during registration.

Registration deadline: October 23.

• Reserve Your Booth Today
  
• Note: Registration fees are processed by our fiscal partner, PNAA, through PayPal. Sponsors may request an invoice from PNAA to avoid credit card fees.

Why Sponsor?

The Future in Flight Expo will bring together hundreds of high school students from across South King County to explore hands-on activities, meet local employers, and discover career pathways in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

Delivering a first-class experience requires significant resources. For example, converting ShoWare Center from a hockey arena to an expo floor requires more than $8,000 in labor just to cover the ice - before we even add AV, staging, pipe and drape, and meals for students and teachers. Sponsorships directly support these costs, ensuring schools and students can participate without barriers.

Your impact: 

• Inspire the next generation of innovators
• Showcase your company’s leadership in workforce development
• Build visibility with students, educators, and community partners
• Strengthen the talent pipeline for our region’s most vital industries

Sponsorship Levels

Sponsorships are a separate category from the booth registration fee. They underwrite the major event costs — venue conversion, AV and staging, student lunches, and engagement activities — ensuring a high-quality, barrier-free experience for every student.

As an added benefit, all sponsors who also host a booth will have their $200 booth registration fee included.  Note:  booths are limited to educators and organizations directly in the advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and space industries.

Title Sponsor - $10,000

• Recognition as Presenting Sponsor in all event promotions and program materials
• Prime logo placement on student and teacher materials
• Logo featured on event signage and website
• Acknowledgement during event program
• Recognition in post-event communications

Gold Sponsor - $5,000

• Prominent logo placement on event signage and program materials
• Logo included on student and teacher materials
• Recognition during event program
• Logo featured on event website

Silver Sponsor - $2,500

• Logo placement on event signage and program materials
• Logo included on student and teacher materials
• Logo featured on event website

Bronze Sponsor - $1,000

• Logo included on event signage and program materials
• Logo featured on event website

Add-On Opportunities

• Student Lunch Sponsor – $5,000:  Underwrite lunch for every student and teacher attending the Expo. Recognition provided on signage at food stations and in event program materials.
• Student Engagement Sponsor – $2,500:  Support the Career Passport activity, encouraging students to visit multiple booths. Recognition on prize signage and activity materials.
• Experience Sponsor – $2,500:  Help students capture their day with a selfie booth (space-themed props included!) and a video testimonial station. Recognition provided at both stations.

In-Kind Sponsorships

Contributions of products, services, or experiences are also welcome, including:

• Student/family passes to local attractions (e.g., The Museum of Flight, iFly, etc.)
• Technology demonstrations or simulators
• Swag, giveaways, or student prizes

Recognition for in-kind sponsors will be included in program materials and signage.

Ready to Partner?

Your sponsorship makes the Future in Flight Expo possible — creating an inspiring, hands-on experience for hundreds of students at no cost to schools.

 - Sponsorships are separate from employer booth registration. If your company is also hosting a booth, your $200 registration fee will be included as a benefit of sponsorship.

Click here to register as a Sponsor.