The FCHS Drone Club was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Education for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) competition. Engineering teacher Terry Schnitter and Drone Club President Delaney Feury completed the application for the grant.

“Mr. Schnitter discovered an opportunity for a grant from the Virginia Department of Education. This grant (the STEM+C) was dedicated to any science, technology, engineering, math, or computer science-related clubs that needed funding, as well as being for a club with a competitive aspect. The grant was via application with five questions each, with a 500-word limit. After I wrote the response to the questions, it was submitted, and we were granted $5,000,” said Feury.

The Drone Club focuses on setting up competition courses and practicing piloting drones as fast as possible, as well as updating flight logbooks. The club’s activities give students a chance to try something new and demonstrate their skills in a competitive environment.

“Our club is pretty new and very promising. The past two years, we qualified for regional competition in West Virginia, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year,” said Feury.

The club will be able to use the award for competitions against other schools and for travel expenses if they qualify for Regionals at the district competition on No. 22. Any further drone and course materials will be covered by the grant as well.

“For November, the Drone Club is planning on hosting our own drone competition. For the past two years, we have been traveling to another location to compete and qualify for a spot in the regional competition in May. Rather than travel, this year we are hosting it ourselves,” said Feury.

The club meets during Fluco WIN 3, as well as after school, and is a student-run activity.

“Mr. [Ben] Hudson, Mr. [Bob] Dorsey, and I are there to supervise and offer suggestions, but the students run the show, and any successes or lack of success is their own doing. It is an excellent opportunity to develop skills in piloting and coding as well as leadership, collaboration, and cooperation,” said Schnitter.

For more information regarding the club, email Feury at [email protected] or Schnitter at [email protected]. You can also learn more about the club by reading Skills Take Flight in the Drone Club on the Fluco Beat.