In the halls of North Royalton Middle School, STEM education is taking flight—quite literally. For three years, seventh-grade students have been transforming their classroom into a dynamic learning environment where drones are more than just high-tech toys; they're powerful educational tools that blend physics, programming, engineering, and creativity.
The brainchild of STEM teachers Don Filips and Samantha Brown, the Flight and Design course launched in 2021. What started as Filips' dream has become a groundbreaking educational experience that goes far beyond traditional classroom learning.
At the heart of the program is the Drone Olympics, an extraordinary event where students become engineers, researchers, and international ambassadors. Over two weeks, students dive deep into research about different countries, design unique drone competition events, and demonstrate remarkable teamwork and ingenuity. The Olympics were held December 16-20.
“The thing that I liked the most about the Drone Olympics was getting to work with our teammates and making a project that was fun for everyone. This was my favorite project that I have done all year and think that schools should do more projects similar to this one. It teaches teamwork, engineering, and resilience,” said seventh-grade student Anderson Kubec.
“What I liked the most about the Drone Olympics is that I got to work with my friends to create a fun obstacle course for Drones! We had some problems but we worked together to fix them. This project helped us all learn teamwork and to help each other. Mr Filips helped us with ideas on what to make for our props and we got them done because of him,,” said seventh-grade student Haven Kirkpatrick.
“I enjoyed getting to be a part of the Drone Olympics. I loved the fact that I was able to have creative freedom in the prop I made. I also really enjoyed getting to compete in other events and experience what others decided to do with their creative freedom,” said seventh-grade student Evany Davis.
The program draws inspiration from Cleveland's rich aviation history, particularly the National Air Races that began in 1929. But it's not just about historical connections—the course is firmly rooted in the future of technology and careers. Students explore emerging aviation opportunities, like the Cleveland Clinic and Zipline's innovative drone delivery partnership launching in 2025.
A highlight of the program was a visit from Captain Sarah Kocuiba, a former North Royalton student who made history as the lead pilot for the Super Bowl LV flyover featuring three women-piloted bombers. Her inspiring story brought the curriculum's potential to life, showing students that their classroom dreams can become real-world achievements.
Through coding, physics lessons, and hands-on piloting, these seventh graders are learning far more than technical skills. They're developing problem-solving abilities, understanding teamwork, and glimpsing the incredible possibilities of STEM careers. The Drone Olympics isn't just a competition—it's a launchpad for future innovators.
