VNR: Drone program opens STEM opportunities for Oʻahu JROTC students

University of Hawaiʻi

Contact:

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/2Ba

***VOSOT SCRIPT BELOW FOR CONSIDERATION***

Nearly 20 students from five Oʻahu schools participated in a groundbreaking drone technology program during their fall break, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship skills among Navy JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps) students.

The University of Hawaiʻi Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) hosted the weeklong Pathways to Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PIE-X) program, October 7-11. Students from Radford, Campbell, ʻAiea and Kaiser High Schools, and ʻEwa Makai Middle School, learned about unmanned aerial systems (UAV) and developed solutions for search and rescue operations.

National Security Innovation Network Regional Engagement Principal Gloria Choo is one of the leads with the program and is based within OIC.

"It's been fantastic," Choo said. "The amount of subject matter experts that are here to talk to them about careers has been great. One of the things I've seen our students be exposed to is this may be an opportunity for them as a career, or just fulfill an interest that they were looking for."

The program, organized by the Pacific Technology Cooperation Group, combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience. The first three days focused on educational components, while the final two days included mentorship from U.S. Department of Defense and industry professionals, and a capstone project, including a drone competition.

"The thing I want to major in is architecture and with the UAV geo spatial awareness; I think it's really useful when it comes to trying to build buildings, see the surroundings and collect data based on what I'm looking at," said Salina Roura Puaatuua, a senior at ʻAiea High School.

Developing skills for developing fields

PIE-X aims to remove barriers for students entering STEM careers, particularly in Hawaiʻi's growing IT, cybersecurity and data sectors. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, systems engineering, data analysis and programming literacy, while promoting teamwork and adaptability. Key objectives include developing spatial reasoning skills for interpreting aerial imagery and planning flight paths, as well as teaching students to modify strategies for various scenarios.

The program represents a strategic investment in Hawaiʻi's future workforce, preparing students for potential careers in both private and defense sectors. By focusing efforts on students involved in Navy JROTC programs, the initiative seeks to inspire students to envision their future careers in Hawaiʻi, while contributing to the state's technological advancement. For more information about PIE-X visit this website.

OIC is housed in the UH Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

Link to video and sound (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/2Ba

VIDEO:

BROLL: trt 1:50

Video from the drone technology program at Radford High School

SOUNDBITES:

Salina Roura Puaatuua, ʻAiea High School senior (:14)

"The thing I want to major in is architecture and with the UAV geo spatial awareness, I think it's really useful when it comes to trying to build buildings, see the surroundings and collect data based on what I'm looking at."

Gloria Choo, program co-organizer and National Security Innovation Network Regional Engagement Principal (:15)

"They're learning critical thinking skills. They're learning how to work in teams, working with teammates that have different perspectives on problem solving as well as given a scenario, what are you gonna do with the resources that you have?"

VOSOT SCRIPT

INTRO:

A new pilot program by the University of Hawaiʻi is giving nearly 20 students from five Oʻahu schools an opportunity to dive into the growing field of drone technology.

VO:

Navy J-R-O-T-C participants learned to pilot drones and tackle real-world challenges in search and rescue operations.

This weeklong program combined classroom learning with hands-on experience.

From flight planning to data analysis, these young innovators are developing critical skills for Hawaiʻi's growing tech sector.

SOT:

Salina Roura Puaatuua, ʻAiea High School senior

"The thing I want to major in is architecture and with the UAV geo spatial awareness, I think it's really useful when it comes to trying to build buildings, see the surroundings and collect data based on what I'm looking at."

Gloria Choo, program co-organizer and National Security Innovation Network Regional Engagement Principal

"They're learning critical thinking skills. They're learning how to work in teams, working with teammates that have different perspectives on problem solving as well as given a scenario, what are you gonna do with the resources that you have?"

VO:

The program will wrap up this Friday with a fun drone competition.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.