Earlier this summer, 2024 Saugerties High School graduate Eric Weisman achieved a remarkable milestone by earning his pilot's license at just 18 years old, a feat made possible through his high school coursework at the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center. 

Having completed the two-year Ulster BOCES program during his junior and senior years in high school, Weisman faced rigorous assessment by a Federal Aviation Administration examiner this summer. He took to the skies in a small airplane to demonstrate everything he had learned about flying. After completing the testing, Weisman described the moment he was told he had passed as feeling like he was "floating on air."

"Several years ago, I set my sights on a career in aviation, and it feels incredible to see that plan coming together," Weisman shared.

Weisman's passion for aviation began in ninth grade when a family friend took him and several family members up in a single-engine airplane at the Kingston-Ulster Airport. From that moment, he knew he had fallen in love with flying. 

Lucky for him, Saugerties Central School District had a pathway available for him to pursue his dream through the Ulster BOCES program. The experience allowed him to spend half his day in Saugerties High School and the other half day at the Career & Technical Center in Port Ewen studying with students from around Ulster County interested in aviation. 

"The program surpassed my wildest dreams," Weisman said. He expressed deep gratitude for his Ulster BOCES teacher, Angelica Dickerson, whom he described as extremely knowledgeable and supportive. "She helped me prepare for the test, and I'm so thankful for everything she taught me." In the classroom, Weisman gained expertise in such topics as aircraft systems, safety regulations, navigation, and weather. He also spent many hours flying alongside a pilot in a plane. 

Reflecting on his high school experience, Weisman believes that enrolling in Ulster BOCES was one of the best decisions he made. Before attending the Aviation program, Weisman said he dreaded going to school. "I didn't feel connected to the work," he recalled. However, his time at Ulster BOCES made him realize that aviation was going to be part of his life, for the rest of his life. 

"It [Ulster BOCES] also provided me with the rare opportunity to train and fly at no extra cost," he explained, noting that the out-of-pocket cost for flight school and the pilot’s exam can cost upwards of $20,000.

Currently, Weisman is attending the aviation program at SUNY Dutchess. He dreams of eventually entering a Reserve Officers' Training Corps program and pursuing a flight career in the military and/or obtaining his commercial pilot’s license. "I know it’s a big dream, but I know I can do it," he confidently stated.

Eric Weisman’s journey from the halls of Saugerties High School to the cockpit of an airplane as a licensed pilot is an inspiring example of where passion, determination, and the right opportunities can lead.