Pembroke Pines, Fla. – A $1.9 million gift by the Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation in support of aviation and avionics education at Broward College’s Emil Buehler Aviation Institute was announced this afternoon at the Broward College District Board of Trustees meeting. 

The Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation’s contribution establishes the Taylor-Bryant Avionics Honors Scholarship to be awarded to five students each year, supports the expansion of a new hangar where an avionics line lab will be housed, and funds further development of a bachelor’s degree program in aerospace science and an associate degree in avionics.  The intention of the gift is to ignite student enthusiasm for the study of aviation and create a pathway to propel them to success. 

“Mr. Taylor and Ms. Bryant clearly recognize the value of offering students great opportunity by scholarship support and the augmentation of our cutting-edge aviation program,” said Broward College President J. David Armstrong, Jr. “We’re very grateful for their generosity and its ultimate impact of providing students with successful careers in South Florida’s thriving aviation industry.” 

According to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the local aviation industry is a multibillion-dollar sector, which includes airlines, airframe and engine manufacturers, avionics, component parts suppliers, maintenance repair and overhaul facilities, and allied industries.  

“We wanted to give back to the industry that got me started in my career and to help those on the same path,” said Taylor-Bryant Foundation Trustee Jerry Taylor, who early on worked in avionics for the U.S. Air Force and McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company.  “We recognized that Broward College was truly a forward-thinking institution, particularly in the fast-moving field of avionics, offering a course of study that few educational institutions provided. It was a natural fit for us to support their efforts.” 

Taylor, with wife and fellow foundation trustee Nancy Bryant, recently attended the 50^thanniversary celebration of the Emil Buehler Aviation Institute, where their interest in Broward College’s commitment to aviation was further sparked. 

“We saw that investments needed to be made to ensure that a four-year degree program in aerospace sciences got off the ground,” said Bryant.  “Contributing to the Aviation Institute lined up perfectly with the vision of our foundation.” 

Bureau of Labor Statistics data reports the median annual wage for aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians is approximately $58,390.  Graduates from Broward College aviation programs have filled these high-wage, high-demand positions in South Florida for the more than 50 years.  

“South Florida’s aviation sector is a vital target industry we expect to continue to generate high value jobs,” said Bob Swindell, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. “Broward College has been an outstanding partner in equipping a qualified local workforce by offering degree and certificate programs in this important industry.” 

About the Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation: The Jerry Taylor & Nancy Bryant Foundation, a private, not-for-profit philanthropic organization, was established in 1999 by Jerry Taylor and his wife, Nancy Bryant. The Foundation is family managed and believes firmly in the importance of education and the arts. Nancy, with more than 20 years of experience in association management, has a business degree from Austin College and was executive director of The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. She served as chairman of the Washington Committee on the Arts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jerry, a graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in physics, spent his career in avionics and telecommunications. He is a United States Air Force veteran and former CEO of MCI Communications Corporation.  Since its inception, the Foundation has made grants to more than 80 non-profit organizations providing scholarships and supporting programs in the arts and education, as well as giving social services grants for foster kids and elder care. The Foundation’s primary focus is on the profound and widening excellence gap through elementary and secondary school in arts and education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 

About the Emil Buehler Aviation Institute:  Established in 1966, the Broward College Emil Buehler Aviation Institute is the only public facility in Broward County dedicated to the training of aviation professionals. The Institute currently offers Associate in Science degrees in aviation administration with four areas of specialization, as well professional pilot technology and aviation maintenance management. It also has certificate programs in airport management, avionics vocational, airport airframe mechanics, aircraft power plant mechanical and commercial flight operations. In 2016, the Florida State Board of Education approved a new Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences degree.  The Broward College Emil Buehler Aviation Institute is located on South Campus at 7200 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines, adjacent to North Perry Airport. Tours and information sessions are hosted Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Thursdays at 3 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, visit www.broward.edu/aviation.  

About Broward College: Serving more than 63,000 students annually, Broward College provides residents with certificate programs, two-year university-transfer degrees, two-year career degrees and baccalaureate degrees in selected programs. The mission of the college is to provide high-quality educational programs and services that are affordable and accessible to a diverse community of learners. For more information, visit www.broward.edu.

-BC-

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