To engage more students in the STEM fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) will award free drone kits to groups across West Virginia that agree to form aerial robotics teams and compete in area competitions.
Groups of middle and high school students are eligible to apply for one of the 17 CoDrone Edu kits. To apply, a parent, teacher or other coach should complete the brief questionnaire at www.mfg.marshall.edu/drones23.
Applications will be accepted through the month of September or until all drones are awarded.
Drone competitions are scheduled throughout the state, including the MAMC-sponsored event Dec. 10 at Huntington Tri-State Airport. Details will be released in the coming months.
“These drones and the related competitions are both educational and entertaining, immersing students in STEM areas while also helping them improve such skills as teamwork and problem-solving,” said Kara Mullins, MAMC’s STEM coordinator.
RCBI’s drone giveaway and student competitions are made possible through the generous financial support of the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium with assistance from the NASA IV&V Education Resource Center, the West Virginia Robotics Alliance, Marshall University and dozens of volunteers.
In 2022, with support of the Space Grant Consortium, MAMC’s drone donations benefitted nearly 500 students – including more than 300 girls and other traditionally underrepresented individuals in STEM.
For more information about the drone giveaway or any of RCBI’s STEM education initiatives, contact Mullins at kara.mullins@mfg.marshall.edu or 304.781.1624.
**Press release from Marshall University Advanced Manufacturing Center, Aug. 30, 2023
