Coast Guard Helicopter Makes Stop at Wells HS

U.S. Coast Guard Pilot Returns to PPS Alma Mater

[April 25, 2025]

On Thursday, April 24, Ida B Wells-Barnett High School welcomed home one of their own—alumnus LTJG Michael R. Travers (Wilson High School, as it was called then, class of 2011), United States Coast Guard—Astoria, a medical/helicopter evacuation technician and highly decorated pilot.

LTJG Travers and his crew piloted a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Astoria to Wells, where they landed on the practice fields on SW Vermont St. After the landing, students attended a presentation in the auditorium to learn about helicopter rescue operations and connected careers including aviation, flight mechanics, and emergency medicine. Coast Guard personnel walked students through a video of a helicopter rescue, highlighting key skills and strategies for success in these high risk situations.

The presentation was attended by students in Career & Technical Education (CTE) Pathways at Wells including Health Sciences and Engineering Technology as well as freshmen enrolled in College & Career Exploration. Following the presentation, select students from CTE Health Sciences teacher Aaron Olsen's Emergency Medicine class were able to visit flight personnel and the helicopter.

Students at Wells have access to 11 state-licensed career and technical educational programs. Subject areas include arts and design, business and marketing, computer science, construction technology, education, engineering, health occupations, mass communications, and sound engineering. Beginning in 10th grade students are encouraged to pursue at least one pathway program during their time at Wells.

Travers, a former student of Olsen's, has received high commendations during his career in the Coast Guard including the 2022 USCG Pilot of the Year, In 2023, Travers was the first Coast Guard pilot to receive the Rear Admiral Thomas F. Brown III Memorial Award, typically given to top pilots in the Air Force or Navy. Lt. Travers and his crew's January 2024 rescue of a family's dog that fell from a cliff on the Oregon Coast received national news coverage.

Students and staff at Wells welcome the crew for a career technical education event.

Wilson (now Wells) High School alumnus US Coast Guard LTJG Michael R. Travers (first on the left) and crew landed their helicopter on the upper field at Ida B. Wells.

—Valeurie Friedman

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Wilson grads: How do you handle the name change from Wilson HS to Wells? Let us know.