Southeastern student Tarique Lyons speaks at AERO Oklahoma at the state capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY - Southeastern Oklahoma State University aviation student Tarique Lyons had the opportunity to speak to state legislators about the importance of aviation education as part of "AERO Oklahoma": Aviation, Aerospace & Defense Awareness Day at the State Capitol.

Lyons, a junior from Ada, is working on his Commercial Pilot certificate in Southeastern's accredited Professional Pilot program at the Aviation Sciences Institute.

Lyons attended the inaugural STEM Aircraft and Pilots Association (AOPA) High School program in Ada under Paula Kedy, who was then the aviation instructor. Kedy is now the statewide STEM Education Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Astronautics and has been instrumental in introducing the AOPA STEM High School program to over 100 Oklahoma high schools, leading the nation in adoption of STEM-based high school aerospace programs for high school students.

Kedy invited Lyons to address the Oklahoma State Legislature as an example of the career opportunities available to students in aerospace-related fields.

The two posed in front of the portrait of Dr. Angie Debo, who was a leading scholar of Indian and Oklahoma history.