Kameron Payne: FROM Banneker High to the Friendly Skies

Ten years ago, Kameron Payne walked into Banneker High School as part of the very first 3DE cohort, a group of 99 students who had no idea they were about to launch a movement that, in 2025, reaches more than 22,000 students nationwide. Today, Kameron is on the cusp of achieving his lifelong dream: Becoming a full-time airline pilot for Delta Air Lines. 

In 2015, a new model for education launched at Banneker High School. Kameron was initially nervous about starting high school but, looking back a decade later, he calls joining 3DE “the best decision of his life.”  

His high school experience prepared him in ways that still impact him a decade later. "I wouldn't be who I am right now without 3DE," Kameron reflects. "It really shaped me. It still has an effect on me 10 years later.”  

Kameron quickly embraced the challenge that was 3DE. In his first month, he wrote on a notecard: “If I focus, I can do anything. Kameron Payne—watch me be great.” That mindset carried him through high school and beyond. Through 3DE, Kameron worked on real business challenges with companies like Cisco and Delta, met CEOs like Dan Cathy, and discovered the joy of learning—not just memorizing facts, but solving problems and collaborating with peers and professionals. 

Just eight days after his high school graduation, Kameron headed to college to pursue his dream of working in aviation. Since then, he has earned degrees in Aviation Management and Business, began working at Delta Air Lines in flight operations and logistics, and accumulated 1,200 flight hours to secure his pilot’s license. In 2026, he begins his final path to becoming a full-time airline pilot for Delta through the Delta propel program, a milestone that once felt impossible.  

“Sometimes our goals can feel unreachable. All the studying, flight hours, ups and downs. Often, becoming a pilot seemed impossible,” Kameron says. “Luckily, 3DE gave me an optimistic outlook. Now I think, ‘I know it sounds crazy, but let’s do it anyway.’ It taught me to take risks and have confidence.” 

Kameron credits the skills he learned in 3DE for helping him navigate the high-stakes world of aviation. The problem-solving in case challenges, collaboration in diverse groups, and exposure to a range of industry professionals translated directly to his adult life. "Everything we learned in 3DE applied," he notes. "When I did the interview process for Delta, I wasn't nervous. I knew I was ready"  

Beyond shaping his mindset, 3DE opened doors in tangible ways. Kameron gained early exposure to the aviation industry through the Delta case challenge and a site visit to the Atlanta airport. Through 3DE, Kameron also gained access to two scholarships from Delta Air Lines to attend the National Flight Academy summer program while still in high school. These experiences, combined with the behaviors and competencies developed in 3DE and the support in navigating the transition to life after high school, helped clear the runway for his career. 

Kameron sums up the impact of 3DE in one powerful statement: “3DE is not just a high school experience. It is a life-changing investment and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” From Banneker High to Delta Air Lines, Kameron’s journey embodies the spirit of 3DE: Expanding horizons, building confidence, and preparing students for what's next.