NEWS

Middle and high school students across Northeast Louisiana took on a brand-new STEM challenge at the Inaugural SCILS Drone Competition. Hosted at the Ruston Sports Complex, the event provided students the opportunity to apply their classroom coding lessons in a hands-on competition designed to spark interest in technology, teamwork, and future career opportunities.

Organized by the SCILS Region 8 LaSTEM Center and hosted in partnership with the City of Ruston, this innovative competition gave students, many of whom had never operated drones, a chance to apply coding and piloting skills in a high-energy, real-world context.

“We were looking for new ways for students to apply their coding skills,” Cathi Cox-Boniol, SCILS Region 8 director, said. “Drones are everywhere from military use to agriculture and forestry in our region. This competition helps students build technical skills while also seeing career possibilities.”

Leading up to the event, participating schools received drones and instructional resources from SCILS. Teachers implemented drone learning into classroom instruction, guiding students through both coding and manual piloting. While some students focused on flying, others mastered the programming side while building teamwork and problem-solving skills along the way.

“This experience has helped expand our robotics and STEM program in a rural school where we wouldn’t otherwise have these opportunities,” Kaci Fontenot, robotics teacher at Caldwell Junior High, said. “The kids were so excited which got other students in the school interested as well.”

Students like Isabella Fife, an 8th grade student from Caldwell Junior High, found the experience both fun and challenging.

“Coding was the hardest part because it kept changing every time we ran it,” she said. “I learned a lot about communication, especially when your teammates have to help you guide the drone through the obstacles. Overall, it’s been really fun to learn something new.”

Cox-Boniol emphasized that this year is just the beginning.

“This is a learning year for everyone – students, teachers, and us,” she said. “The goal is to grow the competition in impact and reach, and eventually make drones a natural part of the classroom experience. We’re also planning to offer future training sessions just for teachers.”

Community support played a key role in the event’s success. The City of Ruston provided the venue, Newk’s Eatery sponsored lunch, and Louisiana Tech University’s SciTEC team helped with coordination and setup. Families and local educators also attended, proud to see their students taking on a challenge that felt both futuristic and empowering.

“Someone says ‘drones’ and everyone’s eyes light up,” Cox-Boniol said. “To see kids programming drones and thinking about careers in national security, agriculture, or conservation – it’s not just fun, it’s preparation for the future.”

For more information about SCILS Region 8 and future drone competitions, contact Cathi Cox-Boniol at ccox@latech.edu or region8lastem@gmail.com.