Education comes in all forms and locations, as seen in the case of Bellport High School student Kerri Campbell. In addition to learning her core courses, the high school senior has also been tuned in to a cockpit’s controls as she regularly takes off from an airport runway.

As a senior, Kerri is looking forward to receiving her diploma this coming June but has recently gotten a jumpstart on her future career. The future airline pilot recently passed her FAA Checkride, a Federal Aviation Administration examination a pilot must undergo to receive an aircraft pilot’s certificate or rating for flight privileges. Additionally, her recently acquired private pilot’s certificate allows Kerri to now fly a single engine plane with passengers as pilot in command.

The road to becoming a pilot has been in the making since Kerri was 13 years old when she first joined the Civil Air Patrol. Her interest flourished after attending a Civil Air Patrol National Glider Flight Academy where she flew solo in a glider for the first time at just 16. Kerri is not only interested in powered flight, but gliders and lighter than air aircraft. She plans on obtaining both her glider and lighter than air ratings in the near future as well.

In September, Kerri plans on attending ATP Flight School, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she will begin her professional flight training to become an airline pilot.

Kerri currently attends Bellport High School classes remotely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Being able to acquire my certification has been a positive outcome of remote instruction,” Kerri said.

The Brookhaven Hamlet resident is also a member of Bellport High School’s National Honor Society and various other clubs. She said she has had little time to participate in many activities other than flying throughout her high school career but is pleased that she could participate in community service projects through Civil Air Patrol membership.

“I have basically spent my whole life flying,” Kerri said. “It has been my whole focus.”