Dove Science Academy out of OKC wins top award at drone competition

JENKS, Okla. — An Oklahoma School is once again the champions at a drone competition, according to Tulsa Community College (TCC).

TCC said Dove Science Academy out of OKC has won the top award, the Teamwork Champion Award, for the second year in a row at the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation’s South Central Aerial Drone Championship.

They also won the Skills Champion Award.

Also competing at the event was the Oklahoma School for the Deaf out of Sulphur.

For the past two days, TCC has been hosting the competition at their Riverside Community Campus and Aviation Center, near 91st and Elwood.

More than 200 students from six states competed in competitions that tested their drone, programming and teamwork skills.

“It’s teaching kids how to fly drones, how to program drones, how to work together with somebody and also how to present them when the talk to judges, document their journey throughout the season, what they’ve learned, and all of that type of thing,” said Louann Cormier the senior program manager for the REC Foundation.

Speakers at the event included former U.S. Representative for Oklahoma and former NASA former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as well as Stephen Penrod, an Oklahoman with more than 10 years military experience in unmanned aerial systems flight operation.

Angelique Rivera, a junior at Dove Science Academy said her favorite part was meeting new people and old friends.

“We get to meet so many different teams from places we’ve never been, like there’s New York teams here, like I would have never met someone from new York if I hadn’t come here,” Rivera said.

Both Cormier and Rivera agreed, the event helps prepare people for future careers.

“We put a drone in their hand and they are now given exposure to an endless opportunity, so drones, just by flying the drones gives the exposure to potential careers in aviation and aerospace,” Cormier said.

“As my team manager I’ve gotten to expand on my management skills and this is preparing me for the career I want in the future because I want to be a mechanical engineer in the future and I know I want a leadership position, so being in charge of my team and stuff like that, that prepares me for my future,” Rivera said.

For more information about the REC Foundation, click here.