(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Ahead of the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Aug. 17-18, the Navy Blue Angels selected a local educator for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, sky high.

At each show stop of the year, the Blue Angels choose a key influencer who shapes the attitudes and opinions of youth in their communities for a special backseat flight. This time, they picked Mollie Venable, who said the experience reinforced why she strives to help shape young minds for their future endeavors.

“It’s honestly one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever had, to be up there and to know how much training they’ve done, and that it all had to start somewhere,” Venable said. “People had to support them, to get there. And just knowing they do it because they love it.”

Venable, a 13-year educator, spent the last three years in early childhood special education in Falcon School District 49. She also volunteers as a special needs shadow at Woodmen Valley Chapel, so parents can attend service without having to worry about their child.

Click here to learn more about the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow.

Tickets for the airshow are sold out, but you can check out the show schedule at the link above to find out when you might catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels in the skies over Colorado Springs.