Union Public Schools Launching New Drone League

Union schools is launching a new drone league where students will compete with each other by flying and operating drones. 

The district invited other districts to a demonstration on Thursday to learn more about joining the league. 

The district says this would be the first drone league in the state, and it would not only be fun for the students but great for their futures.

Flying a drone is something Carter Mathison says is pretty cool. 

“I’ve just been interested in anything relating to engineering, mechanical, electrical, nuclear, aerospace, anything,” he said. 

That’s why Mathison has decided to join the new drone league. 

Union’s Director of Technology, Todd Borland, says students will learn how to operate and fly a drone and be able to log the number of hours they fly, setting them up to get a drone license. 

“The league is going to focus on different drone divisions, so high school students would compete against other schools for drone racing, drone skills, and drone swarm,” he said. 

He says the district is running a successful aviation program that has given them the idea to start the league. 

Borland says this is a great way to engage kids. 

“So not every kid is going to be on the football team, a lot of kids love drones, so one more opportunity to take these loves these kids have and engage them into the school,” he said. 

He says it’s also going to prepare kids for their future careers, with drones becoming more and more common. 

While he’s only a ninth grader, Mathison agrees that it will help him when it comes time to get a job. 

“I’ve thought of numerous different ways you can get into certain jobs, and drones has been a massive key player in a lot of industries regarding aviation,” he said. 

Borland says the goal is to officially start the league in the fall and hopes to have 12 to 16 schools competing.