By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – When was the last time you had popcorn during class?

It happened Tuesday morning for a screening of Top Gun: Maverick, which the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored for Springfield Public Schools students interested in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Before the 150 students saw the big planes on the big screen, they heard from a technical advisor on the movie, former Top Gun pilot Kevin “Proton” McLaughlin, a retired U.S. Navy pilot.

“The big takeaway is that there’s opportunity in pretty much any field that (the students) pursue,” McLaughlin told reporters before the show. “Life is about obstacles, and it doesn’t matter what endeavor you choose, but if you set a path, set a goal, don’t take no for an answer, do it respectfully, continue to work toward your desires and dreams, that truly anything is possible, and i am the perfect example of that.”

And even though it would take far less class time to have the captain speak to students in class, Springfield superintendent Jennifer Gill channeled her inner Siskel & Ebert and gave the exercise two thumbs up.

“The movies are something that’s brought things to life to us for many years,” she said. “but to have the background of what happened before the movie and all the ins and outs discussed just a little bit – there is more to going into a movie than just the storyline.”

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].