By GARETT VALCOURT
Students from Bethlehem High School and Bethlehem Middle School recently competed in the first-ever Florida State Championship for the Drones in School program, hosted at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Gaetz Aerospace Institute.
Sponsored by Embry-Riddle and Florida Power & Light (FPL), the competition brought together middle and high school teams from across the state. The event served as the culmination of a year-long competitive season in which students participated in regional and virtual races to earn their place at the state level. The championship included multiple components, such as head-to-head drone racing, a capture-the-flag challenge, team portfolio evaluations, and display presentations.
Bethlehem High School’s team placed third in the state in the head-to-head racing event. While no Bethlehem teams placed overall, participation in the championship marked a significant achievement for both the high school and middle school students, who demonstrated proficiency in engineering, coding, and team collaboration throughout the season.
The teams were led by sponsors Kaycee Valcourt and David Williams. Valcourt spoke on the students’ efforts during the season:
“Our students demonstrated impressive technical skill and dedication throughout the year,” said Valcourt. “This experience has provided them with valuable exposure to real-world STEM applications, and we look forward to building on this momentum in future seasons.”
In addition to competing, students also had the opportunity to attend an FPL-sponsored meet-and-greet at the Solar Pavilion at Daytona International Speedway. FPL further supported the teams by providing charter transportation from the Florida Panhandle to Embry-Riddle.
The national championship is scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas, at the end of May. While Bethlehem did not qualify for nationals this year, their involvement in the state competition signifies a strong foundation for future success in this growing field of drone technology education.
