Sixteen Columbia High School Students Earn FAA Certifications in Recreational Drone Usage
Sixteen Columbia High School students from the school’s BLAST (Building Lasting Aerospace and STEM Trajectories) national defense magnet program have earned certifications in recreational drone usage from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is the first time since the program launched last school year that students have earned FAA certifications.
The 16 students earned the certification by taking The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). The TRUST certification will help students begin a path toward earning their FAA Part 107 certification, which allows for commercial drone usage.
Dr. Joy Obidike, the aerospace and STEM consultant at Columbia High, says she hopes students are able to earn the FAA Part 107 certification by the end of the school year.
“Seeing pilots and instructors who look like our students and share similar upbringings has dramatically boosted morale and students' confidence in their own ability to soar in aerospace and aviation careers,” said Dr. Obidike.
The BLAST national defense magnet program partnered with Double V Aerospace, a local aerospace company, to help students earn their certifications.
The following Columbia High students earned their TRUST certifications:
- Ethan Bartlett
- Damarion Collins
- Alina Cruz
- Nevaeh Curry-Nettles
- Montres Freeman
- Denise Joyner
- Tristan Kruckow-Remsburg
- Zaria Minor
- Lenoxx Prophet
- Jacob Shoulders
- Joshua Shoulders
- Ja’nyah Simuel
- Lae’l Smith
- Isaiah Telfair
- Kareem Walker
- Kenedi Williams
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PHOTO: Sixteen Columbia High School students from the school’s BLAST (Building Lasting Aerospace and STEM Trajectories) national defense magnet program have earned certifications in recreational drone usage from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).