Students participate in NASA drone competition

Four Hampton City Schools middle school students had the opportunity to participate in their first NASA Serial Drone Competition on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Science teachers Lora Thompson, Debra Hicks, and LaChaunda Madison attended the competition with Kilgore Gifted Center student Destiny George and Eaton Fundamental Middle School students Elizabeth Sanders, Noah Arsenault, and Jordyn Coombs.

Students were met with an intense piloting competition schedule and worked hard to qualify for the autonomous flight event. While they were not initially prepared for that event, they worked hard to work with other teams to prepare to participate. In addition to pilot skills matches, the competition included teamwork matches and autonomous flight skills matches.

Students collaborated during each match to solve problems and strategically work with other teams.

“We had a great time exploring something different together! It was an interesting experience,” shared Hicks. “We not only got to try out new things but also had the chance to meet new people and pick up some cool skills along the way.”

Student Jordyn Coombs, said, “I was pretty nervous and I felt like, 'ok, I can do this.’ I had to fly the drone, get past the eclipse, and I had to land the drone. I think more people should learn how to fly drones because it is really cool.”