Jason Raddatz, summer program manager for MCA, facilitated the drones program along with two Albion College students and help from Bearcat staff.
“They calculate data and get to a point where we can make some conclusions,” Raddatz said. “We analyzed and calculated average time using statistics. We say, ‘Here’s the technology, let’s do some measuring and do some actual science to answer the question: ‘How fast do those things go.’ And for them to do that over the course of about four hours is pretty impressive.”
Through its partnership with MCA, Battle Creek Public Schools graduates who qualify for the Bearcat Advantage scholarship now also have access to additional scholarship funds covering up to 100% of tuition and fees at 15 top private colleges and universities in Michigan. In addition, eligible graduates can receive up to 100% paid tuition and mandatory fees covered at eligible four-year colleges and universities in Michigan, as well as nearly 100 eligible Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) across the country.
“The end goal is to get these kids into college,” Raddatz said. “Taking kids who may not have that pathway and giving them the skills where they get to the point where they say, ‘College may be for me.’”
After challenging one another in racing the spherical robots, students moved to the common area where they flew small, lightweight quadcopter “Tello” drones.
With hands firmly gripping the controller and eyes fixed intently on his drone above, Jassiah Johnson had little trouble piloting the unmanned aerial device as it hovered overhead.
“I wanted a learning experience with drones and I highly recommend this program here at Battle Creek,” Johnson said. “You can do coding with drones. I tried to land them on the table and it’s funny how the further away you are, the harder they are to land.”
