It’s not every day your school day starts with a Seahawk.
And it’s not every day your school administrators drop in to work via military helicopter.
But at FAU’s A.D. Henderson University School Thursday, that’s exactly what happened.
Forget the usual morning hustle. Florida Atlantic University President Adam Hasner and Dr. Joel Herbst, assistant dean of the College of Education and Superintendent of FAU Lab Schools, made an entrance worthy of an action movie, flying in aboard U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
Thanks to the United States Navy and the celebration of Fleet Week 2025, the pair of Seahawks descended from our South Florida skies and turned an ordinary campus arrival into an extraordinary event. It was one of those moments that gives you chills in the best of ways.
“We live in the most beautiful region of the country. To fly the coast from Fort Lauderdale to Boca Raton, see it from a different perspective, and then land at FAU, a place with deep Army Air Force roots from WWII and a thriving future in student success, it’s just incredible,” said Hasner, minutes after stepping off the chopper onto A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High’s field.
The Seahawks, belonging to the Navy’s Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, aren’t just any aircraft. They’re the Navy’s versatile marvels, tackling missions from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue and medical evacuation.
“The kids’ excitement was really neat to see,” said Herbst. “Cheering the helicopters in, dreaming about maybe one day being in those seats themselves.”
The fly-in marked the kickoff of Fleet Week and a day packed with Navy career-focused programs for students in kindergarten through ninth grade. Beyond the wow factor of the landing, the event brought real-world glimpses into careers in aviation, nuclear operations, Navy medicine and engineering.
“We love doing this. We don’t often get a chance to land somewhere so cool. Showing off and landing in the dirt? Always a good time,” said pilot Lt. Jason Cotter.
And the impact of the day went beyond thrills. According to Jason Nadolinski, USN (ret.), and director of FAU’s Military and Veteran Student Success program, there are close to 1000 military-connected students on Florida Atlantic University’s campus—active duty, reservists, National Guard, ROTC cadets and military family members.
“Florida Atlantic University is a veteran-serving institution. It’s about paving the path for those who served and inspiring the next generation, whether they dream of flying, maintaining these incredible machines, or exploring the many other career paths the Navy offers,” added Herbst.
Lesson plans don’t get much better than this soaring salute to service, innovation, and community spirit thanks to an unforgettable Fleet Week touchdown.
Fleet Week is a celebrated Navy tradition, bringing the maritime service members closer to the community, demonstrating naval capabilities, and providing educational outreach about the Navy’s critical roles. Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale Navy and Coast Guard ship tours continue through Tuesday, April 29. Click here for tickets and information.
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