By Mary O’KEEFE

Crescenta Valley loves bingo. There are bingo games throughout the year that not only benefit those who love the game but nonprofits that use these events as fundraisers.

This weekend the Crescenta Valley High School U.S. Air Force JROTC will hold its third annual bingo event at the Verdugo Hills Memorial Hall (formerly the American Legion Hall) at 4011 La Crescenta Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m.

“The American Legion [Post 288] and Veterans of Foreign Wars [Post 1614] will be [hosting] the event,” said Major Michael Sharpe, instructor and mentor for CVHS JROTC. “They helped us with the initial flight simulator.”

The JROTC program was able to get flight simulators in its classroom to help students understand the principals of flight. Sharpe, who is completing his first year as instructor at the school, came to the job with a goal of creating a ground school training program. The money raised at this weekend’s bingo will go toward that ground school program.

The major and his assistant, MSgt. Al Johnson, will be moving their office to another smaller area of the classroom as they prepare for construction to accommodate the ground school program where they will have a simulator bay.

“We have four simulators,” Sharpe added.

Each bay will be designed as a type of cockpit where students can experience a more realistic effect. Sharpe is working closely with both the U.S. Air Force and the Glendale Unified School District. If accepted, ground school will be considered an honors course and a CTE (Career Technical Education) for juniors and seniors.

By the end of the course, the students will have completed their ground school certification and, for some, can continue their education outside of the school to get their pilot’s license.

“There are a couple of [CTE-type] programs at [CVHS], like Science Academy and sports medicine,” Sharpe said. “We are joining that [type of education].”

The money raised at bingo will go directly to supporting the ground school including construction and technology upgrades. The Air Force will support the program with textbooks and some software; however, there is still quite a bit of work to do to get this program ready for students. But once completed, the students will not only benefit from receiving hands-on training for real-world careers but also will be able to use their knowledge to serve other students.

“If we have juniors who complete the course work, they will return as teacher assistants,” Sharpe added. “They will be simulator instructors.”

All this experience in the classroom will help the students when they apply to institutions of higher education or directly to trade schools or employment.

Bingo tickets are sold at the door or in advance of Saturday’s event. For presales, contact the JROTC students or Major Sharpe at CVHS (818) 249-5871.

Tickets are $20 and there will be 13 to 14 games, each with a minimum prize of $100, the maximum at $300. Food will be available for purchase. For those who cannot make bingo, but would like to support CVHS JROTC, please contact Major Sharpe.

  Mary Okeefe