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RICHMOND -- "Prepared for Tomorrow."
This is the mission of the Edison Local School District and is a phrase that is instilled in its students every day.
Juniors and seniors taking part in the drone course at Edison Local High School, are learning the importance of those three words by Derek Gulling, the course's instructor.
The math and engineering teacher explained the drone course provides the opportunity to expose students to the technology used in various career fields.
"The district has worked hard in recent years to provide its students with the education and experiences necessary to prepare students to be 'employed, enlisted or enrolled' in higher education," he stated.
Gulling explained the district wants to ensure relevant learning is being taught and students are exposed to opportunities where they can explore careers and learning aligned to careers.
"By offering this drone course, students are able to apply technology that is used in many different career fields," he continued.
"This course will allow students the opportunity to take the certification exams for FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and the Small Unmanned Safety Institute Level 1 Certification," Gulling said.
"The remote pilot certificate enables students to fly drones for commercial purposes, among other benefits," he conveyed.
"There are many employers that utilize drones for inspection purposes, including power lines and bridge inspections," Gulling noted.
"The course is currently offered to our 11th- and 12th-grade students," Gulling commented.
"Our initial count is seven students, but we are hoping to expand this number in the years to come, as the interest in flying drones builds."
Gulling detailed how his students start off by flying a "learning" drone so they can get used to how to operate it and fly one.
"They then progress to larger and more powerful drones," he added.
"With these drones, students conduct several types of missions in this course."
Gulling stated one of the students favorite missions is to conduct a 'search-and-rescue' mission.
"This is where we hide a CPR dummy somewhere on the campus and the students must find them within an allotted amount of time," Gulling stated.
"Students have also done missions to photograph buildings and property -- mimicking what real estate agents and property firms might want or be looking for," Gulling added.
"In addition to the 'fun' flights, students become familiar with the regulations and laws surrounding flying drones," he concluded.
The students enrolled in the program are looking forward to the time when they can take one or both of the exams.
By having taken this class in high school, they will have a head start in knowing how to operate and fly a drone, and understand how to perform a mission, which can include photography.
Caden Rudy is a student taking the drone course, and commented he was interested in taking this type of class.
He said he wanted to learn how to fly drones and become knowledgeable of the laws surrounding drones because he would like to use them in agricultural settings.