CCHS Drone Program Prepares Students for High-Tech Careers

Churchill County High School is preparing students for the future with a new course, Modern Flight Sciences and Basic Electronics Using Drones, a hands-on STEM program combining science, engineering, technology, and aviation.

Designed for students in grades 10-12, the course goes beyond simply flying drones. Students will explore the science of flight, aerodynamics, electronics, computer programming, engineering design, and automation while building, programming, and troubleshooting unmanned aerial vehicles. Throughout the year, students will apply classroom concepts to real-world challenges by designing autonomous flight missions, solving engineering problems, and learning how drone technology is transforming industries across the country.

The course is being developed and taught by Keith Sluyter, who has taught science at Churchill County High School for the past 17 years. Since 2023, Sluyter also has served as an adjunct faculty member at Western Nevada College. Throughout his teaching career, he has emphasized hands-on science and connecting classroom learning to real-world applications.

Sluyter has a long-standing personal interest in aviation science and regularly incorporates drones into his hobbies and professional work. His enthusiasm for flight technology led him to develop the course to share that interest with students while introducing them to the expanding field of unmanned aviation.

“I've always enjoyed aviation science, and drones provide an incredible way to bring the science of flight, engineering, electronics, and programming together in one classroom,” Sluyter said. “I'm excited to introduce our students to these technologies and to share what they can do with our local community.”

One of the program's opportunities is preparation for the Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, the industry-standard credential required to legally operate drones for many commercial purposes. Students will study aviation regulations, airspace, weather, flight operations, safety, and other aeronautical knowledge needed to prepare for the FAA examination. This gives students a chance to begin developing a professional credential before graduating from high school.

Drone education has particular applications in Churchill County. Agriculture is one of the region's important industries, and drones are becoming tools for precision agriculture, crop monitoring, irrigation management, surveying, and livestock operations. The area's connection to the military community also means students can develop skills that align with emerging technologies used in defense, logistics, mapping, reconnaissance, and emergency response.

Drone technology also is expanding into construction, public safety, environmental science, engineering, transportation, and other industries. The course is intended to give students technical and problem-solving skills while emphasizing teamwork, critical thinking, innovation, creativity, and hands-on learning.

Students will design and build systems, experiment with electronics, write programs, troubleshoot equipment, analyze data, and work collaboratively to solve engineering problems. In the final stages of the course, student teams will integrate these skills into a culminating drone project and demonstrate their work to peers, teachers, families, and community members.

Continued growth of the program will depend in part on partnerships with local businesses, agricultural producers, military organizations, civic groups, aviation professionals, and community members. Professionals can serve as guest speakers, mentors, or partners in student projects and provide opportunities for students to see drone technology used in real-world settings.

For Sluyter, the goal extends beyond teaching students how to fly a drone.

“This is really about giving students an opportunity to see themselves in careers they may not have considered before,” Sluyter said. “I want them to understand the science and technology behind these systems and recognize that the skills they are developing can open doors to exciting opportunities right here in our community and far beyond it.”

Community members interested in learning more about the program, becoming involved, or exploring ways to support the initiative are encouraged to contact Churchill County High School.