Aspiring aviator’s dreams take flight at WMU’s College of Aviation through Make-A-Wish

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—His last name may suggest otherwise, but 13-year-old Vail Fear showed no signs of trepidation as he maneuvered the 737 MAX into a barrel roll on his approach to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. It was only a simulator, but from his slack-jawed expression of awe as he peered over the dash, it was clear Vail’s visit to Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation left an impression. 

“This is awesome!” the aspiring pilot said. 

Vail and his mom, Carey Fear, drove to Kalamazoo from their home in Park Ridge, Illinois, on Friday, May 8, as part of a wish granted by Make-A-Wish Illinois. The rising eighth grader was born with chronic kidney disease as well as PAX2-related disorder, which causes kidney and retinal issues. As a result, he has had a number of surgeries and procedures and will soon need a kidney transplant. 

When Make-A-Wish reached out offering to grant a wish, Vail chose to have a flight simulator installed in his house. 

“He’s got all kinds of plane models and Lego plane sets, and he knows so much about planes—it’s amazing,” his mom said. “Everyone in our family is always sending pictures of new planes they see everywhere to share with Vail.” 

Powerful connection 

Evan Simpson, an aviation flight science student at Western, grew up in the same town as Vail. While they hadn’t met before, their paths crossed when Simpson’s mom, Heather Simpson, chief development officer for Make-A-Wish Illinois, asked him for some help with Vail’s wish. 

“Once I heard he was getting a flight simulator,” Simpson said, “I thought, ‘I go to Western. I think we can do better than that. Why don’t we try and get him some time in a simulator or plane and get him a tour of the amazing facility we have here?’” 

Western’s College of Aviation is ranked among the top six flight schools in the world by Study International. Located at Battle Creek Executive Airport, the college is home to the most technologically advanced training aircraft in the country in the Cirrus TRAC20 G7 as well as a simulator lab containing seven flight training devices, a paint lab and maintenance laboratories, among other state-of-the art facilities. 

“We kind of take all of this for granted because we’re surrounded by it every day, but what we have here and what we get to do is amazing,” said Jason DeGeorge, associate dean of the College of Aviation. “Being able to see Vail, a kid who has persevered and done a lot of hard things in his life, get an opportunity to explore his dreams and to be a part of that is something we’re really proud of.” 

Immersed in aviation 

When Vail first arrived at the College of Aviation, DeGeorge presented him with a challenge coin and aviation wings, which all WMU aviation students receive when they graduate. Then, he was off to tour the facilities with Bella Kwartnik, an aviation management and operations student. 

“I don’t think he’s going to be able to sleep tonight,” said Fear as she watched Vail running from plane to plane inside the hangars. 

Kwartnik showed him around the flight tower, the tarmac where all of WMU’s planes take off, inside lab spaces where students paint airplanes and work on engines, and inside the cockpits of some of the many planes housed in the facility. Then, Vail got to hop inside a Cirrus TRAC20 G7 alongside Grace Blackburn, B.S.’25, a certified flight instructor, who showed him how to perform a flight pre-check. 

“He repeatedly said, ‘This is the best day ever!’” Fear said. 

Blackburn also took him to the simulator lab so he could get a taste of what flying the G7 would look like. That’s where his face really lit up. 

“I remember the first time I came here,” Simpson said. “I was so excited to be a student and be in these simulators. Seeing him with that smile on his face was just amazing. And it’s so rewarding for me as well. I’ve always wanted to do a wish, and I know the joy that aviation brings me. I’m glad to give back not just to the Make-A-Wish community but also the aviation community—and hopefully inspire a future pilot.” 

After warming up in the G7 simulator, Nic Rowe, faculty specialist II, took Vail over to the 737 MAX simulator to experience all the bells and whistles found in the cockpit of the larger aircraft. He also got to practice takeoffs and landings at airports all over the world, from Chicago to London. 

“Jumping in the 737 simulator with Vail was easily one of the highlights of my year,” Rowe said. “I’m proud of WMU and the College of Aviation’s leadership team for supporting Vail’s wish. His visit with us reminded me of how special aviation can be and how lucky we are at WMU to share that passion in ways that can truly make a difference for kids and families.” 

Part of the aviation family 

Vail had so much fun in the simulator that it was tough to get him out.  

“This is nice because it gives him a glimpse into this future, and he’s always said he wants to be a pilot,” Fear said. “It’s nice for him to be able to explore. He would have no opportunity to do something like this anywhere else. The day was so impactful for Vail and me. WMU is truly a special place.” 

Granting the wish was a full-circle moment for Simpson and a chance to share the place he’s come to call home with a fellow aviation enthusiast from his hometown. 

“Western has meant everything to me,” Simpson said. “When I came to Western, I was worried I wasn’t going to make friends, but I found a community in aviation and a community at Western—and Vail is definitely in that family now, too. Anybody who shares the joy of aviation and love of aviation is in the family, and he clearly has that spark. It’s fun to see the smile on his face and that spark growing into a fire. And hopefully, one day, he’ll get to come to Western and go through the same program I did and have the same joy of college that I did.” 

“It would be a great school for him,” DeGeorge added. “We’re happy he saw it and fell in love with it, and we’d love to have him here. There are a lot of great opportunities for students in aviation, from managing an airport to fixing an airplane to flying and operating drones.” 

For Vail, it’s not even a question now what his aviation future looks like. 

“I’m definitely coming here when I grow up,” he said. 

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