NWFL Students Showcase their Drone Skills

Future innovators took center stage as local students from Northwest Florida showcased their drone flying skills in an exhilarating Drones in School competition at the HSU Innovation Institute. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, these young aviators demonstrated their expertise in drone technology, participating in a series of thrilling challenges.

Sponsored by Florida Power & Light Company, the event highlighted the remarkable talent and technical expertise of local middle and high school students. The competition course, filled with obstacles and challenges, fostered teamwork and fun for everyone involved. Students and teachers have embraced growing the Drones in School program, with the panhandle competition growing from one team in 2023 to ten teams in this most recent event.

For many students, this was more than just a competition; it was an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded peers, mentors and industry professionals who share a passion for drone technology.

Drones in School utilizes small-scale drone technology to provide students with invaluable technical skills essential for the growing drone industry. Through this initiative, FPL is reinforcing its commitment to STEM education by providing students with opportunities to engage in practical, future-focused learning environments.

“FPL is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators,” said Kate Cotner, director of community engagement at FPL. “Supporting programs like Drones in School allows students from various academic backgrounds to come together, learn and exhibit their exceptional skills in drone technology. This program is a good fit for FPL because our company uses the latest drone technology to assess the energy grid and deliver on our promise to provide safe, reliable power for all our customers.”

Drones in School fosters STEM career pursuits through engaging, hands-on learning experiences in the emerging field of drone technology. To learn more about Drones in Schools and how to get involved, visit FPL.com/Robotics.

As America’s largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light Company serves more customers and sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 5.9 million accounts, or more than 12 million people. FPL operates one of the most fuel efficient and cleanest power generation fleets in the U.S. and in 2022 won the ReliabilityOne^® National Reliability Award for the seventh time in the last eight years. The company was also recognized by Escalent in 2022 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities for the ninth consecutive year. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2023 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies” and recognized on Fortune’s 2021 list of companies that “Change the World.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

Drones in School is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program that engages sixth through twelfth-grade students with hands-on learning experiences for participating teams to design, construct, and fly first-person-view (FPV) racing drones. Throughout the competition season, students gain engineering, marketing, project management, graphic design, and media production skills while utilizing small-scale drone technology that is safe and scalable for the classroom environment. With free curriculum resources and affordable components, Drones in School is a perfect addition to your organization’s educational program. For more information about Drones in School, visit: www.dronesinschool.com