In just one semester, students will conclude a class with a drone pilot certification and real-world job experience under their belts.
Roosevelt High School will introduce the drone, or unmanned aerial systems (UAS), class to interested students next semester, expanding its concurrent enrollment offerings with Aims Community College.
Noah Walsh, an engineering teacher at Roosevelt, will pilot the course as the in-person flight school teacher. An Aims instructor will lead an online, ground-school course.
The Weld Trust, a philanthropic foundation, awarded an $18,000 grant, and TDS, a telecommunications company, awarded a $4,500 donation to the school to support the program’s inception, develop the curriculum and purchase equipment, materials and resources that align with the offerings at Aims.
Rebecca Albert Vollrath, the Weld Re 5J director of career and innovation, pictured in the middle of Doug Elliott, the Weld Trust’s director of education grants, and Lisa Taylor, the Weld Trust’s senior program officer. The Weld Trust supported the inception of a drone class at Roosevelt High School through an $18,000 grant. (Courtesy/ Rebecca Albert Vollrath )
DEMAND FOR CERTIFICATION SKYROCKETS
In Colorado, drone-related jobs are expected to grow by more than 35 percent by 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Walsh said multiple job sectors will have a spiked need for skilled drone pilots, including construction, agriculture, media, engineering and law enforcement. A Weld RE-5J news release lists uses such as “aerial surveying, crop monitoring, media production and search-and-rescue missions.”
School employees, including Walsh, saw the significant career opportunities that could stem from the emerging field. The idea then formed to expand concurrent enrollment classes that will help set students up for success in the potential pathway by equipping them with the required credentials.
“We want to do whatever we can to make sure that we’re producing students that are going to be ready to enter that field,” Walsh said.
The course initially came with financial setbacks due to the expensive equipment needed to match what’s available at Aims. UAV Coach reported prices can range from beginner camera drones — $500 to $3,000 — to drones designed for both hobbyists and professionals — about $1,500 to $9,000.
The course will introduce students to the basics, safe operations and navigating technology and videography. But Walsh wants to prioritize more than just knowledge; he wants to offer real-world applications.
He intends to work with community partners outside of school halls to let students practice engaging with drone technology in different industries. Through a multispectral drone — which is equipped with special cameras that capture images in wavelengths of light beyond what the human eye can see — he aims to collaborate with local farmers who will allow students to scan their crops. Additionally, he would like to explore partnering with the Johnstown Police Department to run exercises that depict emergency or dangerous situations when law enforcement officials employ drones.
Students who complete the concurrent enrollment course will meet the requirements to earn their Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot Certification, a credential recognized across the country.
“We are proud to support the educational initiatives at Roosevelt High School and help prepare the next generation of skilled drone pilots,” TDS Brand Journalist Garrett Seymour said. “As the demand for drone services continues to grow, we are excited to see these students enter the workforce with valuable certifications and skills that will open doors to numerous career paths.”
TAKE OFF
Just mere weeks away from the course’s take off, Walsh said he has everything he needs to bring another choice for students preparing for career and college thanks to local support from partners.
He anticipates — and looks forward to — seeing the work of students pay off through opportunities to fly drones for school and community events once they finish the class. The school employs students for hands-on experience in jobs that interest them, like IT or sports reporting.
Walsh hopes to see school-based jobs open for drone pilots following the piloting of the class.
“I’m looking forward to the day when we have students that have their Part 107 Commercial license and are able to — while supervised by staff, like myself — fly and gain that real-world professional experience all while right outside our roof,” Walsh said.
For more information on the drone offering or to inquire about partnership opportunities, contact Rebecca Albert, the Weld Re 5J director of career and innovation, at rebecca.albert@weldre5j.org.
©2024 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
