Young Pilots Impress at the 2025 Dee Howard Drone Competition

San Antonio’s largest drone competition showed how hands-on learning is shaping the next generation of technical talent. Nearly two hundred fifty students from sixteen school districts filled the Boeing Center at Tech Port for the 2025 Dee Howard Foundation Drone Competition. Eleven of those districts came from the San Antonio area.

Students worked through tight obstacle courses, solved flight problems in real time, and made split second decisions with their teams. Many arrived with little experience. By the end of the event, they were acting like seasoned competitors. They analyzed performance data, refined strategies, and learned how to stay calm when everything around them felt chaotic.

One thing that stood out this year was the variety of aircraft. The floor featured some of the most recognizable DJI drones. Students flew the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, the DJI Mini 3, and the newer DJI Mini 4 Pro. Training focused teams brought the DJI Tello EDU.

Other groups used the DJI Mavic Air 2S and the compact DJI Flip for quick maneuvering. The surprise appearance was the DJI NEO, which gave younger pilots a chance to try one of DJI’s budget models. The mix of drones helped students connect straight classroom lessons with real equipment that pilots use every day.

Loma Alta Middle School from the Medina Valley district won the grand champion title. Their teamwork, control, and steady communication helped them outperform older teams. It proved that when students get real tools and real challenges, age matters far less than focus and creativity.

Industry Partnerships Shape Career Paths

The drone competition is part of a larger push in San Antonio to build strong connections between schools and high tech industries. The Dee Howard Foundation works with Boeing, Knight Aerospace, Port San Antonio, StandardAero, and Southwest Research Institute to create programs that link education with aerospace, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing.

For many students, this exposure becomes a turning point. At the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame earlier this year, student James Ennis explained how hands-on projects and his internship at Knight Aerospace helped him understand engineering in the real world. He said the experience gave him confidence and sparked new career interests. Teachers say stories like this show why real exposure matters. It builds ambition. It strengthens problem solving, It helps students see that their skills count.

The competition highlighted skills that companies now consider essential. Students learned teamwork, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking. They were not just flying drones. They were planning missions, studying results, and adjusting under pressure. These are the abilities that matter for jobs that do not yet exist.

A City Ready to Lead

San Antonio is now positioned to become a national leader in career connected learning. The growth of technology focused companies in the region gives the city a chance to build programs that connect thousands of students to future opportunities. Organizers say the key is to keep these experiences accessible so that every student can take part, not only those in specialized tracks.

The message from educators and industry partners is simple. The future depends on the opportunities placed in front of students today. When learning is real, students gain the confidence and creativity needed to shape the economy of tomorrow.

DroneXL’s Take

Events like this show why drones are becoming one of the most powerful tools for education. Students get real skills, real confidence, and real excitement from flying equipment they already know and love. The presence of popular DJI models made the competition feel familiar and approachable. If San Antonio keeps building programs like this, the city will become a major source of new tech talent.

Photo credit: The Dee Howard Foundation