Students at North Royalton Middle School (NRMS) were treated to an extraordinary visit on May 5 as Major Sarah Kociuba, a former student turned B-2 bomber pilot and national trailblazer, returned to her roots to share her remarkable journey in the U.S. Air Force.
Seventh graders gathered to hear from Kociuba, who made history as the first female pilot to lead a Super Bowl flyover during the National Anthem at Super Bowl LV, captivated the audience with stories of her time in the cockpit—and the path that led her from the halls of North Royalton City Schools to the skies above Raymond James Stadium.
Now an instructor pilot with more than 1,700 flying hours and over 90 combat missions across five aircraft, Major Kociuba, call sign "Gucci," emphasized the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in her career. She drew clear connections between the seventh-grade STEM curriculum and real-world applications in aviation, flight planning, and military coordination.
“Our missions require a lot of math, a lot of engineering, and certainly a lot of teamwork,” Kociuba told the students. “But it all started right here, in classrooms just like yours.”
“Sarah made the curriculum come alive,” said NRMS teacher Don Filips. “Seeing someone from their own community doing such extraordinary things helps our students realize that these dreams are attainable.”
Major Kociuba closed her talk with a message of perseverance and passion. “No matter where you start, if you work hard, stay curious, and never stop learning, the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.”
