Paityn White, a 2020 Little Rock Central honor graduate, has made her mark in the classroom, and now she's doing the same in the skies! Despite having a nontraditional high school experience due to COVID-19, Paityn made the most of her time at Central, excelling academically and through her involvement in Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC), sports, and band. As AFJROTC Group Commander and a leader in various school clubs, she earned numerous commendations, including the National Junior Honor Society and President’s Education Awards.
Paityn was also selected for the 2019 Southwest Airlines "Continuing The Legacy" Aviation Flight Program and had the honor of meeting Tuskegee Airmen Brigadier General Charles McGee and George Hardy. This monumental meeting inspired her to join the TuskegeeNEXT Flight Program, earning her Private Pilot License by the end of her junior year - at age 17!
While juggling a rigorous schedule at Clark Atlanta University, Paityn still managed to volunteer, join the Lady Panthers Softball team, pledge Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and serve as Student Government Association Vice President. She graduated in May 2024 with a BS in Physics and a minor in Mathematics. Paityn’s perseverance and dedication have earned her a Naval Aviator Candidate slot in the United States Navy, where she will train to become a Fighter Pilot and make history as a black female Officer and Aviator.
To what or whom do you attribute your drive?
"I remember my mother, very early in my life, when I was in Kindergarten, telling me that ' It was NEVER an option not to go to college.' She told me to find my passion and figure out how to get paid to do it for the rest of my life, and it would never feel like work. My mom would make me read books and write reports in the summer. She would buy math, reading, and writing workbooks, and I had to work on them for an hour each day."
Future Aspirations:
"To serve my country and to leave this world knowing that I helped make it better, uphold my family's legacy, and serve with honor, pride, and dignity."
