Pflugerville High elated over drone gift
The scene inside the classroom was akin to a crowd watching a game-winning touchdown.
Audio-visual and journalism students cheered and gave one another high-fives when they heard a high-tech drone had been donated to Pflugerville High School.
Last month the high school received a D JI Mavic Pro drone and accessories through an anonymous donor who had presented it to the Pflugerville Education Foundation. It’s the first donation of its kind for Pflugerville High.
The donor had requested the drone be delivered to the high school because of students’ recent successes in audio-visual work.
Junior Ian McClure was excited to hear about the school having its own drone. “I think this drone will help us increase (the quality of ) our shots and get new kinds of shots,” he said.
The D JI Mavic Pro has a 4.3-mile range with a 27-minute flight time and can reach a top speed of 65 mph. It houses a 12-megapixel camera with high-definition video, and its guidance system ensures it avoids any aerial obstacles.
David Robb, who heads the audio-visual and journalism programs at the high school, said the drone offers all-new capabilities to showcase student talent.
“It provides access to equipment that is used by professionals in several industries, including audio-video production and journalism,” he said.
Junior Samajae Bonds said fellow students are eager to use the drone. “We’re going to have a blast with that,” he said.
Robb is more apt to pump the brakes on the enthusiasm. Anyone operating the drone must adhere to strict local and federal regulations.
“Teaching students to be responsible producers and consumers of media is at the heart of our A-V and journalism curriculum,” he said. “This includes understanding and abiding by unmanned aircraft system laws and regulations at the local, state and national level.”
Pflugerville High students have racked up accolades in audio-visual work the past several years. Students recently led a SXSWedu panel and won a Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference award in broadcast news.
The school newspaper and broadcast teams have also been lauded, each receiving the Interscholastic League Press Conference Bronze Star in their respective categories — the highest honor given to students at that conference.
Last year, two films produced by Pflugerville High students advanced to state competition in the UIL Young Filmmakers Festival, with one being named state champion in Division 2 Digital Animation.
Bonds, McClure and Robb each had one message they wanted to share with the donor: thanks.
“Thank you so much for donating this drone,” McClure said. “This will tremendously help us.”