{"id":4506,"date":"2025-06-02T18:32:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T18:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4506"},"modified":"2025-06-02T18:57:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T18:57:33","slug":"soaring-high-chris-sims-journey-from-aspiring-pilot-to-aviation-mentor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4506","title":{"rendered":"Soaring High: Chris Sims\u2019 Journey from Aspiring Pilot to Aviation Mentor"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chris
Chris Sims visited SI Airport during the United Career Day in October 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Ava Steffens<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Sims, a 30-year United Airlines pilot and SIU School of Aviation alumnus, believes those who share a boundless passion for flying deserve to be uplifted just as he was.<\/p>\n

In support of that belief, he recently established the John and Carol Sims Aviation Scholarship. The scholarship is named after his parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cA dream is only a dream until it becomes reality. It does not become a reality unless you have some help along the way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Originally from Naperville, Illinois, he attended SIU from 1990 to 1994.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween the location, price, and convenience, the decision was a no-brainer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Soon after graduating, he interned at United Airlines through a program offered by the School of Aviation, which provided a direct pathway to becoming a United Airlines pilot after college.<\/p>\n

Sims’ passion for aviation began when he was 5 years old during his first plane ride. This moment ignited a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. Thrilled by the idea of flying, his love for aviation deeply influenced him throughout his entire life.<\/p>\n

“You couldn\u2019t even tell me what colors my walls were, my room was so full of airplane models,” he said.<\/p>\n

He found the United Airlines internship at SIU while he was still a junior in high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father told me to look at this little school in Southern Illinois. I remember seeing the Saluki logo next to the United logo, and knowing it was meant to be,\u201d Sims said.<\/p>\n

Working weekends at SI Airport as a student and flight instructor, he did not even have time to attend a football game until after he graduated. Although he pushed himself as a Saluki, he credits SIU and its unique programs with helping him transition from a student to a professional full-time pilot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of work, but there was also a lot of opportunity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sims felt inspired to give back while reflecting on his time as a student. Now in his 50s, he remains grateful for the support he received. Along with establishing a scholarship, he is now dedicated to serving as an Aviate Ambassador to SIUC, United Career Day Flight Facilitator, and Aviate Program Mentor at flight schools nationwide.<\/p>\n

\"United
United Career Day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI reached a point when I realized how fortunate I was and that now was the time to give back. So many people\u2019s handprints lined the path for me to get here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Sims named the scholarship after his parents, who were his inspiration to pursue an aviation career.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents would take me to the airport just to watch the planes on the runway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

To apply for the scholarship, students must write about the day, moment, or event that made them realize they wanted to pursue a career in flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a student has passion, they should at least be provided with the opportunity to make that happen,\u201d Sims said.<\/p>\n

To make a gift, visit siuf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ava Steffens Chris Sims, a 30-year United Airlines pilot and SIU School of Aviation alumnus, believes those who share a boundless passion for flying deserve to be uplifted just as he was. In support of that belief, he recently established the John and Carol Sims Aviation Scholarship. The scholarship is named after his parents. … Continue reading Soaring High: Chris Sims\u2019 Journey from Aspiring Pilot to Aviation Mentor<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-stories","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4506","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4506"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4519,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4506\/revisions\/4519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}