Westfield Student Flies High to Reach His Goals

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Brogan Turner, a sophomore at Westfield High School, has lofty ambitions that will take him to high places.

Turner, who was born and raised in Westfield, has turned his long-time passion for planes into a positive goal to be a pilot. He has already spent a great deal of time in the air learning how to fly.

“I started flying two years ago at Indy Executive Airport and have about 45 hours of flying (already) in,” Turner says. “I have my student’s pilot’s license. I have almost enough hours for an actual pilot license, but you have to be 17 years old.” 

Turner, 15, already knows what he would like to do later in life.

“Currently, my main focus is on (being in) the Air Force/Military,” he says. “I always had a fascination about planes but never really considered (doing something with) it until my mom brought it up to me.”

Turner loves being in the sky.

“The thing I most enjoy about my lessons is that when you are that high in the sky, everything else seems small, and you can forget about whatever else is happening and just fly.”

Turner, who is a fourth-generation member of his family to graduate from Westfield High School, works hard to fit the flying lessons into an already hectic schedule that includes school, community work and missionary service.

“I’m currently doing pep band at school as often as possible, and I am trying to join more clubs but am having trouble finding out which ones would be best,” he adds. “I want to be in one like key club, which is like doing community service but there are many of those.”

Turner performs in a band for members of the Westfield community.

“I’m in a small band some of us put together, and we have played around town a bit and for a senior center on Cinco de Mayo,” he says. “I play the trumpet.”

Turner has also been to the Dominican Republic four times on mission trips.

“During the trips, we help build a school for kids who wouldn’t get a decent education otherwise,” Turner says. “It’s called Freedom International Ministries. I have really enjoyed helping and seeing the culture in the Dominican Republic.”

Freedom International Ministries started a bilingual, Christian school near the town of Ramon Santana. More than 100 sugarcane villages are found in the surrounding area. The Ministries’ school serves the families of Ramon Santana and the nearby bateyes. A batey is a settlement around a sugar mill.

“We helped build the school,” Turner says. “The wonderful people there have something that works for them. They never get into debt. They just get help from people to get things done.”

Turner also has an enthusiasm for science and enjoys learning more about physiology.

“My favorite subject has always been science, and I’m hoping to take physiology as soon as I can,” Turner says. “My current plan is to go to Purdue University and join the ROTC for the Air Force classes there, while I’m getting my major in Aviation. I’ve visited Purdue three times and really like it there.”

Turner noted that he has loved living in Westfield.

“My favorite thing about Westfield is how everyone is always ready to help someone who needs it,” he says.

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