Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Field Trip topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plymouth North drone team approved to compete at national event in Houston
Summary
Plymouth North’s drone-team students will travel to the Exponential Conference in Houston for a national unmanned-vehicle competition after the school committee approved the out-of-state overnight field trip; administrators said parents will fund remaining costs and the team will run fundraisers to offset expenses.
The Plymouth School Committee on April 7 approved an out-of-state overnight field trip for a four-student Plymouth North High School drone team to compete at the Exponential Conference in Houston in May.
Carl Nielsen, engineering technology teacher and robotics advisor at Plymouth North, described the program as a new pilot within the school’s robotics offerings and said the team qualified to compete in an in-person national event after submitting season materials including a marketing video, portfolio and competition footage. Sean Nicorsi, the student project manager, said the trip would be three nights and include a two-day competition and conference sessions for unmanned vehicles and drone technology.
Nielsen told the committee that the team would send four students, two parent chaperones and one staff advisor; the estimated cost per student would be roughly $500, with the team and parent groups planning a rapid online fundraising campaign (Snap Raise) and use of existing robotics funds and corporate sponsorships to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Nielsen said the program expects to cover most of the budget from sponsorships and fundraisers and that family groups acknowledged they may pay up to about $500 per student if necessary.
Committee members asked whether all four students would be able to attend regardless of financial need; Nielsen said yes, and a committee member followed with praise for the program’s rapid growth and national qualification. One committee member noted the team had worked with Belmont High School earlier in the season and that an Ed TV student plans to record and produce a segment from the event.
A motion to approve the field trip was moved and seconded and then carried. The committee wished the students luck and asked the team to return with a recap after the competition.
