Springfield Students Soar to Victory at National Drone Championship

Aerial Drone Competition

Springfield, Vermont, is buzzing with excitement after the impressive triumph of our local students at the prestigious Dragonfly Regional Drone Championship in West Virginia. On their return, the young champions received a hero’s welcome, complete with a police escort parade, celebrating their remarkable accomplishment.

Carter Fox, a ninth-grader and a member of River Valley Technical Center’s Robotics and Aerial Drone Club (RADs), shared his astonishment: “I was actually half asleep when we figured out we were getting the parade. We didn’t know anything until it actually happened.”
The RADs team, known for their excellent collaboration and coordination, competed fiercely and emerged victorious in the Teamwork Challenge. Their mission? Navigate their drones through a challenging course, efficiently maneuvering balls to their designated locations in record time.

Teammate Eli Spear highlighted the club’s dynamic appeal, “I think the part that I like best about RADs is that you get to do so much stuff.” Spear emphasized that clear communication and teamwork were the key to their success, explaining, “It’s the coordination that we all have. We all know what we are doing and how to listen.”

Instructor Christopher Gray, who leads the RADs club, pointed out the broader educational implications of their win: “There is a direct link between what they are learning with the drone and what they could do as a future drone pilot or even in aviation.” Gray proudly noted that this marks the third consecutive year the club has reached the regional competition level, a testament to their hard work and dedication.
One team member, Tallman, underscored the real-world benefits of participating in drone competitions: “I want to do more programming in the future, so it is a really nice and fun way to have more experience.”
For these students, the celebration extended beyond trophies and medals. Reflecting on the exhilarating moment of victory, Fox described the unforgettable experience of being hoisted into the air by his ecstatic teammates: “All of a sudden, I just felt myself levitating, and it was all my teammates picking me up and they just carried me.”
Though their drones will remain grounded until October, the students at River Valley Technical Center have already set their sights on their next adventure, the eagerly anticipated end-of-year Battle Bot Competition.
Congratulations to Springfield’s young innovators, whose success in drone technology underscores the vibrant spirit of innovation and collaboration in our community. As they continue to achieve remarkable milestones, they inspire us all to look to the skies, and beyond.

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