Harper celebrates new Aviation Maintenance Lab at Schaumburg Regional Airport

Harper College recently marked a major milestone in its workforce development efforts with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Aviation Maintenance Lab at the Schaumburg Regional Airport, a facility designed to prepare students for in-demand careers as aviation technicians.

The lab, housed in two redeveloped airport hangars, is the result of a partnership between Harper and the Village of Schaumburg, along with support from federal, state and industry partners. College leaders and members of Harper’s Board of Trustees joined elected officials – including U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Schaumburg Village President Tom Dailly – airport and industry representatives, and Harper faculty, staff and students to celebrate the new instructional space.

“This ribbon-cutting represents what’s possible when vision, partnership and persistence come together,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, president of Harper College. “This partnership is another powerful example of how Harper College continues to be the community’s college – serving as a key convener between education, business and government across our district. When those sectors come together around a shared goal, we can create meaningful pathways for students and deliver real impact for our communities.”

Dr. Proctor noted that the project was made possible through collaboration with the Village of Schaumburg and federal funding secured by Rep. Krishnamoorthi, who helped provide $500,000 in federal Community Project Funding to support the lab’s development. The congressman praised Harper for working with industries such as aviation to provide career and technical education, which he considers vital to the future success of American citizens.

“When you can actually have an industry partner work with a local institution of higher learning and local government to facilitate these opportunities, people take advantage of them. And they grow and have a ladder up into the middle class,” Krishnamoorthi said. “We have to make sure that our students can get access to careers.”

Demand for certified aviation technicians is projected to continue to outpace supply for at least the next decade, according to the Aviation Technician Education Council’s Pipeline Report. The industry is anticipating an estimated deficit of 7,000 certified mechanics in 2027 alone.

Village President Dailly focused on the collaboration between Harper and the Schaumburg Regional Airport, discussing the facility’s evolution since the village purchased and preserved the airport in 1994 while noting that the new lab supports both student learning and the region’s aviation ecosystem.

“Today, through our partnership with Harper College, this airport is now a place for education workforce development. Hangars B26 and B27 have been transformed into a hands-on instructional lab where students can train to become aviation maintenance technicians,” Dailly said. “This lab represents progress through thoughtful planning, investing in infrastructure, education and the future of Schaumburg.”

Bill Kelley, chair of the Harper College Board of Trustees, said the Aviation Maintenance Lab demonstrates how strategic investment and strong governance can translate into meaningful workforce opportunities.

“This space represents exactly what community colleges are meant to do,” Kelley said. “Respond to workforce needs, remove barriers to high-quality training and work hand-in-hand with our partners to create opportunity.”

While emphasizing the collective effort behind the project, Dr. Proctor highlighted the role of Harper’s Aviation Program Coordinator Gary Percy, whose work has included coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), overseeing equipment installation and recruiting future students.

She also acknowledged the students in attendance, who are currently enrolled in Harper’s Aviation Management degree program. The college is planning to begin offering Aviation Maintenance degree and certificate programs soon, pending FAA approval of the new facility.

“High-quality aviation training requires specialized equipment, industry-standard tools and facilities that reflect the environments students will enter when they graduate,” Dr. Proctor said. “Those resources take funding, and they take leaders who understand the long-term value of investing in workforce education.”