Alexis’s Path from Aviation Camper to Pilot

At Challenger Learning Centers across the country, students step into the roles of scientists, engineers, and astronauts—roles that often spark a lifelong passion for STEM. Our alumni carry those experiences with them into college, careers, and beyond, shaping the future of exploration and innovation.

One of those alumni is Alexis Cryts, who first visited Challenger Learning Center of Paducah in 2014. 

In her first Mission, Alexis had the opportunity to role-play as a geologist. “I remember having the best task of analyzing the rocks and minerals that were found,” Alexis recalls. “Running those experiments using the robotic arm was so much fun!”

That Mission was just the beginning. Over the years, Alexis attended multiple camps at the Paducah Center, including their first Aviation Camp. That program opened the door to an entirely new passion.

“It was then that I fell in love with flying and decided I was going to get my pilot’s license,” she said. “Six years later, I achieved that goal.”

Her time at Challenger Center also helped fuel her academic and professional path. Alexis earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering with a focus in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Today, she works as an engineer, contributing to software development for a commercial jet engine prototype.

For Alexis, Challenger Center experiences were more than memorable—they were transformative.

“Experiences like those at Challenger Center are so important for students because they show how exciting STEM can be,” she explained. “Centers provide immersive, hands-on learning opportunities that spark curiosity and encourage exploration in high-demand STEM fields. For many students, this offers valuable insight into the vast world of STEM that they might not have had the chance to discover otherwise.”

Alexis’s connection to Challenger Center came full circle this year. A few months ago, she returned to the Paducah Center to present at the very same Aviation Camp that launched her STEM journey a decade ago. Joining 11 other former campers, Alexis had the chance to talk about the challenges of earning her pilot’s license and shared her love of all things related to flying, inspiring a brand new generation of future pilots.