Highland Prep has reached a new milestone in STEM excellence with three separate aerial drone teams qualifying for the Aerial Drone Regional Championship. The event, set to take place in San Diego from April 19-22, 2026, will feature top-tier competition as student pilots and programmers from across the region showcase their technical prowess. Among the qualifiers is the team of Quentin Bowens, Perrin Cole, Patrick Heydenreich, and Jayden Saunders, who secured their invitation early in the season by earning a prestigious All-Around Champion title.
Joining them at the championship are two additional groups that earned their spots through high-performance metrics. The team of Kaden Noble and Liam Tytler, along with the duo of Emma Hancock and Max Henderson, officially qualified based on their exceptional high skills scores in recent competitions. These teams have demonstrated a master-level understanding of drone piloting and autonomous programming, key components of the REC Foundation's Aerial Drone Competition. As they prepare for the four-day regional event in San Diego, Highland Prep celebrates the dedication and innovation of these talented student-engineers.