FAU Lab Schools' Drone Teams Fly High in State, National Competitions

Students from FAU Lab Schools recently achieved outstanding success in the "Drones in School" competition program

Students from A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School (FAU Lab Schools) recently achieved outstanding success in the "Drones in School" competition program, earning top honors at both the state and national levels.

"Seeing our students excel on the state and national stage is incredibly exciting for our entire school community," said Lauren Robinson, Ed.D., principal of A.D. Henderson and FAU High School. "Their success is the result of countless hours of hard work, creativity, collaboration and determination."

The ADHUS Drone Club, coached by Tucker Hindle, competed in the Drones in School National Championships, as part of the AUVSI XPONENTIAL conference, in Detroit.

The team "Cypress Speeds" - comprised of Aleksandr Bitkin, Thomas Oates, William Oates, Sean O'Sullivan and Ishaan Venkatesh - captured the Middle School National Championship title.

In addition to winning the middle school division, Cypress Speeds posted a team score higher than all high school competitors at the event. The team also earned national top honors in marketing video; portfolio and display; engineering and design; head-to-head racing; and innovation.

Another ADHUS team, "Five Elements," also competed at nationals after winning the 2026 Florida State Championship in the middle school division. Team members Christian Cardona, Robert Arutyunyan, Dhanush Shankar, Talinn Sundaram and Camden Swisher finished as national runners-up in Detroit.

Five Elements additionally earned awards for Capture-the-Flag; the Excellence Award; and the People's Choice Award.

"The Drone Club's accomplishments showcase not only the students' technical talents, but also the confidence and problem-solving skills they have developed through hands-on learning experiences," said Robinson. "We are thrilled to celebrate our drone teams and all they have achieved while proudly representing Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools."

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