The arrival of a massive Black Hawk helicopter, which landed on the school's practice football field, left students amazed.

Seneca's Health Science Academy is an Academies of Louisville program — one of dozens spread throughout 15 Jefferson County high schools that give students career-themed lessons to increase their readiness for life after graduation.

Today academy programs are in 15 high schools, some are unique to one school while others are offered in several. Building on its success, the district established the Explore Pathways model in 2022 and began offering middle school students in 14 buildings exposure to different career fields.

"This is one of the events that we do to try and engage our female students," said Rachelle Wood, Shawnee High School Academy coach. "That's why we focus on having female representatives here." 

From flying in a plane to soaring off to space, the school’s aviation program gets girls involved in their field of interest.

Workers from UPS, the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, along with airline and aviation employees, were on hand to talk with the students interested in a career in the aviation industry.

Students had the opportunity to get hands on with a flight simulator or a drone-- and employers and representatives from the World of Aviation came to speak.

According to the organization Women in Aviation, women account for less than 20% of the aviation workforce and less than 5% are airline pilots. The Academy at Shawnee in Louisville is trying to close that gap and make the skies more female-friendly with its ‘Girls in Aviation Day.

"I think it's very unique to be able to come to school and work hands-on with the chickens, work hands-on with the raised garden bed, and then go on to your English, math, science and social studies classes and learn more about ag in there. That's the key to what we're doing with the academies of Louisville. It doesn't just stop with their one ag class. It extends to their core classes and makes it more enjoyable to come to school every day," said Wirtberger.

Just a few of the major accomplishments we have made together include...proliferation of nationally recognized models with the Academies of Louisville and Explore Pathways...

Future electricians and HVAC professionals at Valley High School got hands-on, real world experience Wednesday, a chance to test-drive the tools they'll use in the field. Eckart Supply brought its Milwaukee Tool Trailer to the school, providing students with an opportunity to explore the latest in HVAC and electrical tools.

Organized by Hispanic Students United, dozens of students in the next generation registered to make their voices heard.

Eight Academies of Louisville teachers and administrators were honored.

A blood drive at the Marion C. Moore School will help save lives in Kentucky. Students are benefitting from the blood drive held Friday because they're getting money for the medical program for each student and teacher who donates blood.

This week, about 40 officials from four Little Rock, Arkansas area school districts are in town learning about JCPS' Academies of Louisville program.

Iroquois High School’s Build Academy has started an all-girls electrical class, the first of its kind in Kentucky, in an effort to get more women into the trade.