Former AFA National TOY Recognized by National Aviation Hall of Fame 

Mark Westlake, AFA’s 2015 National Teacher of the Year from Minnesota, continues to set high standards for himself and his students on various national stages for aerospace/STEM education. Most recently, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) named Westlake the 2024 National A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator. 

Westlake is a STEAM Specialist and the Director of the St. Thomas Academy Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn. He will be presented his award during the 60th annual NAHF Enshrinement weekend in Dayton, Ohio, in September.  

Former award recipients were tagged as “Crossfield Kids” by the late benefactor of this award, famed test pilot A. Scott Crossfield. Westlake will be named the 37th Crossfield Kid, directly following AFA’s 2021 National TOY, Megan Tucker, who was the 36th recipient of the award in 2023.