Florida Power & Light (FPL) donated five drones to Palm Beach Lakes High School to benefit the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education program. As a Partner in Education with the school, the drones valued at $20,000 will help support Palm Beach Lake’s new drone program that is set to launch during the 2021-2022 school year.

Twenty students are projected to enroll in the two-semester class. Students will gain knowledge on how to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and become visual line of sight operators. The program was initiated by Master Sergeant Jonathan Oakley, a JROTC Instructor at the school.

“We want to teach students how to operate drones safely and some of the basic fundamental features of the drone itself,” Oakley said. FPL will also sponsor Oakley’s drone license certifications that will be part of the curriculum. For more information about the program, contact Master Sergeant Oakley at jonathan.oakley@palmbeachschools.org.