Students Gear Up for Mescalero Apache Drone Competition

The students at Mescalero Apache Middle and High School are getting ready for their annual aerial drone competition, which takes place this Saturday, December 6, on the reservation near Ruidoso in New Mexico, as reported by Ruidoso News.

The event brings together pilots, navigators, teachers and families, and it turns the school gym into a busy airspace filled with practice flights, last minute checks and plenty of nervous excitement, because for many of these students this is the moment they have been preparing for all semester.

Admission is simple and community focused, since everyone attending brings one unopened toy, and those gifts are donated to the Mescalero Apache Tribe for local families during the holidays.

The competition centers on teamwork, which is why students split into small groups where each person has a role, and the program’s juniors have been leading much of the preparation. Diandra McFadden and Shanna Cochise have been spotted running trial launches as they fine tune their drones, while their classmate Miley Cojo practices as a spotter, calling out directions that help the pilot make clean approaches to obstacles.

These rehearsals are not just drills, because they are critical steps that help the teams build trust and rhythm, something that matters when a fast moving drone needs to thread through gates or complete precision tasks on a timer.

A STEM Program with Growing Confidence

The aerial drone program at Mescalero Apache School has been building momentum for years, and the students have a history of competing in regional challenges with real success, including earlier championship wins and a major event the school hosted back in 2023 with support from Air Force personnel.

Their program introduces students to aviation concepts, engineering principles and communication skills, all through hands on practice that feels more like a sport than a classroom assignment. Even students who do not fly learn about planning flight paths, interpreting course layouts and managing equipment, which gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility.

What stands out is how this drone program fits into the community, because it creates opportunities that rural and tribal schools do not always receive.

Students get access to technology that sparks curiosity, teachers introduce problem solving in ways that feel practical and relevant, and families get to participate in a shared local event that celebrates both STEM learning and cultural community support. When you combine that with the toy donation entry requirement, the result is an event that strengthens both education and tribal connection in the same moment.

A Competition Shaped by Teamwork and Community

Saturday’s event will feature classic aerial drone challenges such as obstacle runs, precision landings and coordinated tasks that require clear communication between pilot and spotter, and these formats give students the space to demonstrate everything they have practiced.

The competition is less about medals and more about skill, patience and teamwork, although nobody denies that winning feels great, especially for juniors who hope to continue into advanced REC Foundation events in the future. Teachers say the students have been pushing themselves harder this year, because they want to show how strong the Mescalero Apache program has become.

Families and community members are expected to fill the gym, and the toy donation tradition ensures that the event supports local children beyond the competition itself. It creates a warm atmosphere where the sound of cheering blends with the hum of spinning propellers, and that combination has become a signature part of the school’s identity each December.

For many of these students, this competition is a point of pride, because it shows what they can accomplish when given the tools, the trust and the encouragement to try something technically challenging.

DroneXL’s Take

This event shows how powerful drone education can be when it is placed in the hands of dedicated students and a supportive community, because Mescalero Apache has turned its drone program into something meaningful and inspiring.

The competition is small, but the impact is large, and it reinforces how drones continue to open doors for young pilots across the country, especially in communities that benefit most from hands on STEM learning.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force / Antonio Salfran, Mescalero HS