Miranda’s Journey: From Apprentice to Mentor Through Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative

Watching Miranda grow through the Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative has been nothing short of extraordinary. When she joined our WOMEN BUILD PLANES team, she was already familiar to us—a kid who had been coming to the airport since she was 11. What followed was a transformation rooted in hands-on mentorship, belonging, and opportunity.

Before her fellowship, Miranda wasn’t planning on pursuing higher education. But through HFFI and her time working alongside our mentors—George, Cliff, Bob, Doyle, and Steve—she found both her confidence and her calling. She now has a full ROTC scholarship to Wooster Polytechnic Institute to study aerospace engineering.

Miranda didn’t just grow as a technician—she grew as a person. Public speaking once terrified her. I remember countless hours of practicing presentations with her and her mom. Her first exhibition of learning was rough—George came back shaking his head. But by the time she defended her senior thesis, we all beamed with pride. She's now the poised voice of our team, often saying exactly what I’m thinking before I can even open my mouth.

She has become a trusted peer mentor and leader, someone younger members confide in about everything from workplace dynamics to personal struggles. And through my own breast cancer treatment, Miranda stood by me, steady and supportive. She’s a good egg—literally, too. Her family raises chickens, and she often brings eggs to share at the hangar.

To other advisors: Never underestimate the power of long-term relationships. The connections we build with our Fellows and their families are the bedrock of transformation. HFFI isn’t just a program—it’s a life-changer. Miranda will be sorely missed next year. But thanks to the Harbor Freight Fellowship Initiative, Habitat for Aviation, BETA Technologies, and EAA Chapter 613, she’s off to soar.