[446] MTSU Aerospace Maintenance Management Seniors Hall, Weaver Land Southwest Airlines Internships

Release date: May 2, 2011

News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Aerospace contact: Joe Hawkins, 615-904-8360 or jhawkins@mtsu.edu

MTSU Aerospace Maintenance Management Seniors
Hall, Weaver Land Southwest Airlines Internships

(MURFREESBORO) — MTSU aerospace maintenance management seniors Ryan Hall of Chattanooga and Nick Weaver of Murfreesboro were almost as excited as their faculty mentor, Joe Hawkins, when they learned they'd be interns at Southwest Airlines this summer at Love Field in Dallas.
Hall, 23, who expects to graduate Saturday, May 7, hopes the internship will be a kick-start to his postgraduation days of employment in the industry.
For Weaver, 21, who hopes to graduate in December, this summer's work will be another way to show his grandfather, Gabe Weaver, a former airport employee, that switching his major from professional pilot to maintenance management was a good decision.
Hall and Weaver were two of more than 13,000 college and university students worldwide who applied for 72 Southwest internships this year.
They follow MTSU aerospace alumni Lauren Lipe, a professional pilot major, and Antonious "Tony" Basalyous, a flight-dispatch major, who received Southwest internships last summer.
"We're certainly excited for Ryan and Nick," said Hawkins, who also is an award-winning career aircraft-maintenance man and MTSU alumnus. "They were the first to be selected from our concentration, and they've certainly worked the long hours it takes to complete our program."
Both students also credit aerospace faculty members Bill Allen, Steve Gossett, Mark Blank and Jerry Hill with helping them prepare for their interviews.
Weaver said he discovered during the interview process that Southwest "wanted you to be yourself." Weaver interviewed first, then offered interview pointers to Hall.
"Someone told me they don't hire individuals; they hire a 'family member,'" added Hall. "They have a fun-loving attitude, but they want you to be serious when you need to be."
Hawkins said most aerospace-maintenance classes are six hours long, twice the length of normal academic courses at MTSU. Students must complete a minimum of 1,890 hours of training to obtain the required Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant Certificate.
"There's also an FAA 100-percent-attendance rule," Hawkins said. "Students can't miss a class for any reason, and we have to provide the FAA with documentation that our students earned all their hours."
Hall is the son of Maggie Hall of Chattanooga and Charles and Lynn Hall of Chattanooga. Weaver is the son of Dr. David and Susan Weaver of Murfreesboro.

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In Brief

MTSU aerospace maintenance management seniors Ryan Hall of Chattanooga and Nick Weaver of Murfreesboro received notification that they will be working as Southwest Airlines summer interns. They were among 72 interns selected from the more than 13,000 college and university students who applied. Hall is a May 7 degree candidate while Weaver expects to graduate in December. Both will be completing a minimum of 1,890 hours of training to obtain the Federal Aviation Administration Airframe and Powerplant Certificate.

Photo available
To obtain a high-resolution jpeg photo of Ryan Hall and Nick Weaver, contact Randy Weiler in MTSU News and Media Relations by calling 615-898-5616 or email jweiler@mtsu.edu.

Founded in 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution located in Murfreesboro and is the state’s largest public undergraduate institution. In September 2011, MTSU will celebrate its 100th year anniversary with special events and activities throughout the year — kicked off by a Blue-Tie Centennial Gala on Friday, Sept. 9.

For MTSU news and information, go online to mtsunews.com.