WATSON - Live Oak High School is expanding its aviation program this year through a new partnership with the Louisiana Air National Guard.

The school has offered aviation classes for the last three years, giving students hands-on experience with airplanes and drones, including time on a flight simulator.

Through the new partnership, students will actually build the tail of a plane.

"The kids actually get to start building it. It comes in pieces; it's not already made, so the kids will actually get to build it, get to interact with it, so the kids will be able to see other sections of the aviation career field other than just being a pilot," MSgt Kameron Fly with the Louisiana Air National Guard said.

Some students will leave high school with a commercial drone license.

Principal Gary Jones said the school also offers ProStart cooking classes, welding classes and medical classes to give students real-world skills before graduation.

"If we can expose them to all of that now, they will be that much better prepared when they get out of here. If they have the opportunity to get into aviation, get into ProStart cooking classes, welding classes, the many medical classes that we offer, they get a real look into what's going on, get those skills they need and they're ready to roll," Jones said.

Senior Luke Hetherwick is now taking professional flight classes outside of school after the program sparked his interest.

"Taking this class has absolutely changed my personal view on college and what I want to take in my future. Aviation is a huge part of my life," Hetherwick said.

He plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University next fall to study mechanical engineering.

"With how much I love aviation, being one of the only high schools in Louisiana to have an aviation program is absolutely amazing," Hetherwick said.