A Northgate High School graduate spent her summer obtaining her pilot's license.

After graduating high school earlier this year, Laina Thongs attended an eight week aviation program, the Air Force Junior ROTC Flight Academy, at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

Thongs was in the Air Force JROTC during her time at Northgate.

She said she signed up for the program because of her desire to be an aerospace engineer.

"I wanted to throw myself in there," she said. "I am interested in flight and it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."

The Northgate alum was at Delta State University only a few days after finishing high school. The program started on June 1 and she completed it on July 25.

Curriculum at the flight academy included time in the classroom and time piloting the

See Full Page