Imagine!

Dos Pueblos High School Students from left to right: Lauren Foong, Audrey Garfield, Sasha Dozier and Madelynn Le

"Imagine Your Future in Aviation" event was held on on June 7, 2025 at Atlantic Aviation at the Santa Barbara Airport. Sponsored by Montecito Motor Classic, the event was the brainchild of Dolores Johnson, a local Santa Barbara resident whose life was transformed by a chance opportunity to work in the aviation industry at a young age. Recognizing how that pivotal moment opened doors to countless possibilities, Johnson designed "Imagine" as a comprehensive career day for youth, introducing them to an industry that offers limitless opportunities for growth and success.

A highlight of the Santa Barbara airport event was the a custom mural painted directly on 521DJ's fuselage, a Cessna 182, by four art students from Dos Pueblos High School. Working with guidance from the SafeLaunch team, which included world renowned designer Mark Strehenberger, the students designed and painted the mural throughout the day. The students' design depicted the Drug Free Clubs program as a banner being pulled by healthy brain. 

SafeLaunch supports and advocates for the innovative "Drug Free Clubs" program, originally founded by firefighters in Ohio. This approach uses positive reinforcement, rewarding students for remaining substance free rather than punishing them for substance use. SafeLaunch offers schools start up funds for the launch of new Drug Free Clubs in California high schools.

SafeLaunch's signature "Flights Above Addiction" program has completed over 70 educational missions and continues to expand its reach. This educational art-based aviation approach illustrates the powerful point that every child can fly without the impediment of drugs.

To help prevent teen substance use, click here. 

To find out more about the event, read local media reports, click here, here, and here.