2025 Was a Year of Takeoff for the Urban Aviators Society

In 2025, the Urban Aviators Society continued building pathways for young people to explore aviation, STEAM, leadership, and future career opportunities. What began as a vision to inspire underserved and underrepresented youth has grown into a movement powered by students, families, volunteers, donors, and community partners who believe every young person deserves access to opportunity.

This year, we served more than 250 youth across Central Ohio through hands-on aviation and STEAM programming. From AeroSTEAM sessions and drone education to community events, airport experiences, scholarship moments, and new partnerships, 2025 reminded us why this work matters.

Our newly released 2025 Annual Report highlights the progress, people, and partnerships that helped move our mission forward.

2025 UAS Annual Report.pdf

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A Few Highlights From 2025

This year, the Urban Aviators Society:

• Served 250+ youth across our programs and community events.

• Expanded AeroSTEAM programming across winter, spring, and fall sessions.

• Launched and grew Droneworks, including drone coding, flight instruction, and FAA Part 107 knowledge prep.

Joined the Academy of Model Aeronautics UAS4STEM Drone Challenge, giving youth a national platform to build teamwork, coding, problem-solving, and drone operation skills.

Celebrated a major student milestone when Gloire Mujanama, a UAS student, received a $20,000 scholarship from MLB player Austin Hays.

Earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid, the highest level of recognition for nonprofit accountability and openness.

Appeared in the documentary ESL, highlighting the power of community partnerships in serving immigrant and refugee families.

Welcomed support from partners including Wright-Patt Credit Union, Jet Access, Columbus State Community College, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, COSI, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the Twin Rivers Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Mu Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi, and many others.

More Than Numbers

The numbers are important, but the real impact is seen in the voices of the students and families we serve.

Students told us, “we love these classes” and “we had fun, do we have to leave?”

Parents shared, “thank you, this is much needed for our kids” and “I wish you could do more classes.”

Those words remind us that aviation is more than airplanes, drones, and technology. For our youth, aviation becomes a doorway to confidence, curiosity, discipline, and possibility.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2026, we are preparing to expand our reach even further. Our plans include launching ElevateHer Flight & STEAM Day, growing Droneworks, strengthening mentorship opportunities, and continuing to create accessible pathways into aviation and STEAM careers.

We are proud of what 2025 represented, but we know there is still more work to do.

Read the Full 2025 Annual Report

The full report shares a deeper look at our programs, community engagement, financial highlights, partners, student impact, and goals for the year ahead. We invite you to take a few minutes to read it and see how your support helped us create meaningful opportunities for young people across Central Ohio.

Read the 2025 Urban Aviators Society Annual Report and see how we are inspiring aviators, building innovators, and creating pathways for the next generation.

Join Us

Whether you are a donor, volunteer, educator, aviation professional, corporate partner, or community supporter, there is a place for you in this mission.

Together, we can help more young people discover what is possible when they are given access, exposure, mentorship, and a runway to their future.

Recognized as a 2025 Top Nonprofit Leader

Urban Aviators Society Founder & Executive Director, Nicholas Williams, was honored by Mahogany Columbus Magazine as one of the Class of 2025 Top Nonprofit Leaders. This recognition celebrates his dedication to uplifting underserved youth through aviation, STEAM education, and mentorship. From building innovative programs to forging powerful community partnerships, Nicholas continues to champion access, opportunity, and representation in the aviation industry.

“Being named one of Mahogany Columbus Magazine’s Top Nonprofit Leaders of 2025 is a blessing and a reminder of why this work matters. Urban Aviators Society exists to create opportunities for youth who are too often overlooked, and this recognition highlights the power of community, mentorship, and perseverance. I’m proud of what we’re building, and even more excited for the lives we’re going to transform next.”

— Nicholas Williams, Founder & Executive Director, Urban Aviators Society

Read More about it here: Mahogany Magazine

Thinking One Move Ahead: How Chess Is Helping Youth Change Their Lives

By Nicholas Williams, Executive Director, Urban Aviators Society

In a time when youth violence, impulsivity, and split-second decision-making continue to affect youth within communities, it’s more important than ever to teach young people how to think, not just react. That’s precisely why we chose to use chess as a tool for change.

I’ve seen firsthand, through my years in law enforcement and my work with the Urban Aviators Society, that many young people make split-second decisions that can change their lives forever. I wanted to find a way to reach them before that moment, to help them slow down, think critically, and see the bigger picture. That’s when I realized the quiet power of chess with the help of a great friend.

The Power of Patience and Problem-Solving

When you sit down at a chessboard, you quickly see that patience and strategy matter. One of our young participants once told his mother, completely unprompted, that he had learned “how to think one move ahead and about patience.” That moment meant everything to me. It proved that what we were doing was working. We weren’t just teaching a game; we were shaping a mindset.

Chess teaches youth to remain calm under pressure, to analyze the board before making a move, and to take responsibility for their mistakes. In our sessions, we even include drills that require players to wait 60 seconds after their opponent moves before responding. It’s simple, but impactful. It promotes discipline, breathing, and mindfulness in ways that words alone can’t.

A Three-Phase Approach to Growth

Our chess diversion program runs for 10 to 12 weeks and is built around three core phases:

1. Chess & Critical Thinking:

   Youth start by learning or improving their chess skills. This stage develops patience, foresight, and situational awareness, the same skills they’ll need to navigate life.

1. Aviation & STEAM Exploration:

   Once those critical thinking skills take hold, we move into aviation and STEAM activities through the Urban Aviators Society. Chess becomes the foundation for innovation, showing youth that the same focus they use on the board can be applied to science, technology, and flight.

   
   

2. Community Dialogue & Accountability:

   Finally, participants meet with law enforcement officers and judicial officials to engage in open and honest conversations about their choices and the consequences. This stage closes the loop, reinforcing how thinking ahead can keep them on the right path.

   
   

We begin every session by checking in with participants, asking how their week has gone and if they have faced any challenges. Over time, we’ve observed small but meaningful changes: less fidgeting, improved focus in class, and more engagement with the lessons. Parents have also noticed these changes. We then end every session with a daily reflection.

Why Chess Works When Other Programs Don’t

There’s often a stigma around counseling, and not every young person connects with sports or tutoring. Chess breaks down that barrier. It doesn’t matter how athletic, talkative, or outgoing you are; everyone starts on equal ground.

Chess becomes a safe space for growth. It teaches that moving too fast and recklessly leads to checkmate, both in the game and in life. As I often tell our youth, if you rush through life, you might end up in jail or worse. But if you slow down, think ahead, and choose your moves carefully, you give yourself a real chance to win.

Building Dialogue, Not Division

One of the most significant aspects of this program is its ability to foster dialogue between youth and adults. When law enforcement officers, mentors, and community leaders sit face-to-face with young players, it helps break down barriers. The game becomes a bridge, a way to talk, laugh, compete, and connect on a human level.

Measuring Success and Looking Ahead

As we continue to grow, we measure success through surveys, attendance, behavioral changes, and testimonials from parents and participants. Over time, we hope to see fewer disciplinary issues, improved focus, and a genuine interest in aviation and STEAM careers.

Our long-term goal is to expand this program into schools, the juvenile justice system, and eventually statewide. We are actively seeking community and financial partners who share our belief that prevention and opportunity are interconnected.

The Bigger Picture

At the Urban Aviators Society, we view STEAM as a series of innovations and foundational elements, with chess being one of those elements. Whether on a chessboard or in a cockpit simulator, the goal remains the same: to help youth think critically, plan ahead, and believe in their potential.

Chess matters because it develops essential life skills while fostering confidence and creativity. It encourages young people to think carefully before they act, both on the board and in real life.

So let’s keep building our youth up, one move at a time.

Nicholas Williams

Executive Director & Founder

Urban Aviators Society

www.UrbanAviatorsSociety.org