Page 12 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt – February 2024

12 February 2024 News Thunderbolt www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb http://www.luke.af.mil
Purple Star Initiative Gains Traction
56th Fighter Wing
Public Affairs
Great Hearts Trivium Preparatory Academy, alongside Luke Elementary School, Millennium High School, and Dreaming Summit Elementary School, stands as one of the pioneering schools in Arizona’s Purple Star pilot program.
“This program is a beacon of community-driven com- mitment,” said Melissa Rueschhoff, Luke Air Force Base command spouse, Arizona attorney and advocate whose two children are students at Trivium Prep. “At Luke we’ve worked in tandem with the local community on the Purple Star initiative, tailoring to the unique challenges faced by our military-connected children.”
Trivium Prep has implemented robust support elements, including a designated campus liaison, peer mentoring program, and staff training, ensuring a point of contact for new families and a smooth transition for military- connected students.
Chris Wright, a Marine Corps veteran and third-grade teacher, oversees Trivium Prep’s peer mentoring program, fostering connections among students from military fami- lies.
Trivium Prep looks toward the future with plans to expand its peer mentoring program into a regular school club and organize patriotic assemblies and celebrations.
Schools in the Aqua Fria, Litchfield, Great Hearts Acad- emy, and Dysart School Districts are actively engaged in launching a pilot program for Purple Star Certification in Arizona.
The community’s active involvement and advocacy indi- cate a shared vision of breaking down barriers to create an environment where students, especially military-connected ones, can flourish and grow.
“The well-being of our military families is paramount,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Rueschhoff, 56th Fighter Wing com-
Courtesy Photo
Luke Air Force Base leadership, along with Millennium High School staff and local community partners, pose for a photo during a Purple Star candidate ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 20, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Schools in the Aqua Fria, Litchfield, Great Hearts Academy, and Dysart school districts are actively engaged in launching a pilot program for Purple Star Certification in Arizona.
mander. “It’s always amazing to see the support we receive from the local community and how dedicated they are to our Airmen and their families. Luke is fortunate to be sur- rounded by such a compassionate community.”
The dynamic collaboration between Luke AFB and the local community showcases a shared commitment to sup- porting military families and creating an inclusive and nurturing educational environment for all children.
56th FSS holds education workshop
Luke Fighters Soar Over Gila Bend
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elias Carrero
An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing, performs an aerial maneuver over Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona, Jan. 19, 2024. The Barry M. Goldwater range, south of Phoenix, Arizona, is host to a number of air-to- ground bombing ranges which are utilized for training. Luke AFB is the largest fighter wing in the world and home to eight fighter squadrons that train with both the F-35 and F-16 aircraft.
U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Jackson
Stacey Holland, 56th Force Support Squadron school liaison program man- ager, briefs at a military college & career workshop, Jan. 22, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Military children and their parents attended the workshop designed to educate on career and education oppor- tunities in and out of the military.
Col. Peter Abercrombie, 56th Mission Support Group commander, gives opening remarks at a military college & career workshop, Jan. 22, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Abercrombie thanked those in attendance for coming together to create a better future for themselves or their children.
Jackie Collins, Arizona State University director of student recruitment, briefs at a military college & career workshop, Jan. 22, 2024, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The brief was available to military children and their parents. Events like this help increase quality
of life, providing services focused on maximizing a healthy work-life balance for military members and their families.