- Alumni
During the week of October 4, 2024, Andrew Wahoski ‘23 dedicated his time and piloting skills to assist survivors of Hurricane Helene by transporting supplies to North Carolina.
As a member of the Brighton Flying Club, Andrew volunteered with the Civilian Crisis Response Team (CCRT) based in Columbus, Indiana. Currently pursuing an Aviation Degree in college, he was excused from classes for the entire week to participate in hurricane relief efforts. Throughout the week, Andrew flew to Columbus to collect donated supplies, which he then transported to Statesville, North Carolina.
“I reached out to the Civilian Crisis Response Team (CCRT) via Facebook on Tuesday, October 1 because I saw they were calling on pilots and plane owners for any assistance they could offer in transporting donated supplies,” Andrew explained. “As most people know, all of the roads in western North Carolina have been washed away and simply don't exist anymore. As a result, many charity organizations, like the one I worked with, had to find an alternative way to get these goods to North Carolina without using roads. Since I have the time, skills, and means to help out, I felt that I needed to go. I thought to myself, ‘If guys like me aren't going to help, then who will?’”
Andrew recognized the need for assistance. “I saw an opportunity to truly make a difference and an impact. I quickly saw that my help along with the other pilots was certainly imperative. The airplanes flew into Statesville and unloaded their supplies onto trucks. These trucks would then take the goods nearby to helicopters that delivered the supplies to the inaccessible communities that were affected,” he stated.
The donated supplies Andrew helped transport included essential items such as food, baby wipes, diapers, toilet paper, trash bags, tarps, and survival blankets.
Andrew is currently studying Aviation Management at Northwestern Michigan College, considering several career paths after graduation. “I have a few options ahead of me: Plan A is to work for an airline, Plan B is to move to Alaska and start my own business focused on fishing, hunting, and camping excursions, and Plan C is to fly cargo for FedEx.”
Since graduating from Catholic Central, Andrew has made it a priority to gain flight hours and experience. “Whenever I have a free weekend, I come home to work at Coratti's in Milford, where I’ve been employed since I was 16. I still make time for my hobbies, which include snowboarding, rollerblading, and hacky sack.”
Andrew also expressed his thoughts on the flight simulator in the new George and Mary Turek Hall of Science. “I haven't seen the completed STEM wing yet, but I did see an Instagram post that featured the flight simulator. I'll be honest, it looks nicer than what I have at school currently. I'm much more impressed with what the new addition has turned out to be compared to what I had expected.”
Encouraging others to take action, Andrew stated, “If you are able to do good, free of the expense of your well being, then morally you should be obligated to do so. Obligation implies necessity. If I observe and am conscious of any opportunity to do good, then in what scenario could I refuse such opportunity?"