Heritage and Menchville soar at REC Aerial Drone Competition
Posted: December 17, 2024
Students from Heritage High School and Menchville High School soared to new heights at the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation's Aerial Drone Competition held on December 14 at NASA Langley Research Center.
Both teams demonstrated exceptional skill and determination in advancing to the semifinals in a competitive field, according to Kevin Nelhuebel, STEM instructional specialist for Newport News Public Schools.
The Menchville High School team earned special recognition with the Airmanship Award, celebrating their precision, teamwork and excellence in drone operation. This prestigious accolade underscores the team's dedication to mastering the art of drone navigation and serves as a proud achievement for the school, according to Nelhuebel.
"The success of these teams would not have been possible without the outstanding guidance and support of their coaches and mentors," Nelhuebel said.
For Heritage High School's team, recognition goes to faculty members Jacole Hendrick, Lenise Cowling and Eric Tyson for their invaluable contributions. At Menchville High School, special thanks go to Dr. Michael Shumate, Kevin Green, Christopher Rambali and James Shaffer for their dedication and leadership.
Shumate and Hendrick, the STEM Leads for Menchville and Heritage High Schools, respectively, played a pivotal role in the success of the drone program, according to Nelhuebel. Both embraced the drone program as their school's STEM initiative, providing visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to their teams' success.
"The commitment shown by both schools has not only ensured their success, but also helped set the foundation for growing this program across the division," Nelhuebel said. "By setting an example of excellence, Heritage and Menchville have established a model for other schools to follow as the program continues to grow."
