HONOLULU (KHON2) — The drone team at Ewa Makai Middle School is proof humble beginnings can lead to greater success.
Ewa Makai Middle School teacher and team coach, Keao Cockett, said he started the drone program in 2023 with a small group of students, taking in anyone who wanted to fly.
“It [was] scary at first because I didn’t know anything about drones either,” stated Cockett. “The kids will figure out a way if they’re if they’re into it, and then surprise you.”
Now the students are soaring through hurdles, navigating their way to the top against 519 teams across the country. Three of the school’s drone teams would eventually be part of 60 national qualifiers to compete in the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation’s Aerial Drone Competition at the University of Chattanooga in Tennessee. They would bring home two first-place titles and one second-place award:
1st place in the Nation for Teamwork Challenge
2nd place in the Nation for Skills Champion (for piloting and coding skills)
Ewa Makai Middle School student, Tobias Hyde, scored the highest in the nation for piloting.
“I didn’t think we’d actually win it because we were in 17th place,” said Thang Nguyen, a drone team student. “You’re just buzzing. My hands were buzzing.”
Principal Kim Sanders said the perseverance of her students is what makes them so special.
“They try again and again and they work together – taking care of each other, collaborating, working out problems and issues. They are so great at that,” stated Sanders.
With a newfound family and some steady piloting, the kids are getting ready for take-off once again.
“Even though it feels like you’re not going to win, there’s always that 1% that you’re going to actually succeed. As long as you keep trying, you’ll actually get it,” said drone team student, Michael Matsuda.