CAREER EVENT CONNECTS STUDENTS TO BUSINESSES.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

PALMDALE - With friends cheering him on, 18-year-old James Moe maneuvered his F/A-22 down through clouds, only to be attacked by enemy fire.

The teen managed to eject from the disabled jet - garnering him congratulations from the Lockheed Martin instructor standing beside him.

Moe won the opportunity to ``fly'' a computerized F/A 22 simulator by spinning a wheel at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. booth at the 14th annual Salute to Youth: The Career Connection.

``It was pretty cool, except for I was not really used to it,'' said Moe. ``I've never done anything like that before. I was kind of lost. I spent half the time upside down.

``They had numbers on the screen. When they turn upside down, it means you're upside down. ...I'm like, I'm going the right way. (They're) like, 'No, you're upside down.' I'm like, oh, OK. If I could get used to it, it would be fun.''

Held in a vacant aircraft assembly plant adjoining Air Force Plant 42, the event attracted 1,600 teens in 10th through 12th grades from Antelope Valley Union High School District schools.

Students had the opportunity to look at Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk robot spy plane, Lockheed Martin's F117A stealth fighter and displays and equipment from the military, rescue agencies, local radio and television stations and dozens of local businesses.

``What we're trying to do is provide an opportunity for all the students in the valley ... to come in and take a look at what opportunities they have out in the community or out in the work force or whatever service they choose to pursue,'' said Superintendent David Vierra.

Many of the booths offered students free items and chances to win prizes. The Building Industry Association's booth featured a contest in which students competed in driving a nail into a board.

``It's pretty interesting and inspirational, I guess,'' said Lancaster High student Arin Dawood, 17, who hopes to become an architect. ``I have seen a lot of interesting things in the Air Force region ... engineering and stuff.''

Salute to Youth had been explaining career options to local teens at Plant 42 for 13 years before it was stopped due to security concerns after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Four years later, the event has been reinstated because of heavy business-community interest at this nearby plant, owned by Los Angeles World Airports.

``It's really been the draw from the community, saying, 'Hey, we ought to do this,''' said Randy Scott, director of plans and programs at Edwards Air Force Base. ``We want to want to be able to tell the kids out here, you know, give them career ideas.''

``We're building back up - it's really the community that asked to get it started up again,'' said June Battey, the event coordinator.

Although sophomores and seniors also attended, the program was geared toward juniors, in part to help them determine their senior projects, which are required for high school graduation.

``The juniors that are here are going to be looking for topics and so we're hopeful that some of the businesses here and so on may be able to help them out with a topic, or maybe the student can do a topic that might help one of these businesses or they might gain a mentor here,'' said Scott.

``The kids seem very excited and appreciative of the fact they can look at what opportunities they have out there,'' Vierra added. ``I think it's a wonderful event and one that we're hoping to continue this year forward.''

Peggy Hager, [phone]

peggy.grimm-hager(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Students from Antelope Valley Union High School District schools gather around various craft during Salute to Youth Day near Air Force Plant 42.

(2) Barzin Omidi, a member of Antelope Valley Search and Rescue Squad, demonstrates to local students the skills required in rappelling at Salute to Youth Day.

(3) Telin, a Belgian Malinois, attacks Edwards Air Force Base K-9 Security Senior Airman Jason Jacobs, in order to show students the power of security dogs.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer