Page 16 - TTMNFall2026

Transportation
Page 16 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

Flying a Plane Before Driving a Car: EPHS Students Build Career Skills

in Aeronautics Classes

Other students around the room were
also collaborating with their teams to deliver
drone-filmed video projects that fulfilled the
need of a real-world client. 12th graders Adam
Aanderud and Tobin Day — who had also just
passed their Part 107 tests — were working
with Associate Principal Mariah Pringnitz
to create an informational parking video for
the high school. “She’s really excited about
it and willing to work with us,” Adam said.
Working with an actual client was offering
students the opportunity to practice collabo-
ration and communication. Teacher Andy
Bailey, who leads the aeronautics program,
was amazed by “just how much of young in the field, hands-on project work, and the
professionals these students have become by chance to take the Part 107 test made drone
being given the opportunity.” Hands-on learn- work a very real career option for many stu-
ing was important, he explained, because even dents in the class.
given everything the students had learned for As Bailey continues to build the EPHS
the Part 107 test “without an experience like aeronautics program, he wants to extend the
this, the knowledge doesn’t necessarily mean program’s authentic learning experiences,
anything.” from studying for industry certifications
This resonated strongly with 12th graders to diving into airplane mechanics and, of
Eden Prairie Schools the first Eagles in EPHS history to earn that Calvin Kearney and George Junttila, who were course, flying. Last year, Bailey introduced
“Can you make it do a barrel roll?” a certification in the class, offered in EPHS’s filming a new introductory video for the Eagle “Discovery Flights” for students in the
voice called out from the upper level of the aeronautics program in the Engineering, Tech- News Network (ENN), which included drone introductory aeronautics course, meaning
EPHS South Commons. The question was nology & Manufacturing Pathway, footage of EPHS and surrounding areas. They students no longer had to wait until the
just loud enough to be heard over the whirring “This is giving me a good picture of what liked how the class had a built-in career focus. Capstone class to try flying a plane for
buzz of two small drones, which several stu- my future is going to look like,” said 12th Instead of simply filling a notebook with the first time. “Now I have ninth graders
dents on the first floor were flying through the grader Brynja Potter, one of the seven students lecture notes and closing it at the end of the flying a plane before they can legally drive
open space. who have so far passed, or are scheduled to term, they explained, students were applying a car,” Bailey said proudly. But what he
“Not with this model,” one of the stu- take, the Part 107 exam. Earning her remote their knowledge to something real, and getting experienced after the flights, after seeing
dents chuckled in response. pilot certificate meant Brynja didn’t have to a chance to see what a career in that field could students work with clients in his unmanned
It was a Friday afternoon, and Eagles in take a written final, so she was hard at work on look like. “I think it’s something that will stick drone class, was what impressed him most:
the Aeronautics: Unmanned (Drones) class a final project promoting the EPHS Aerospace with us for a long time,” Calvin said. Students were more confident, more profes-
were practicing their flying skills. A few stu- Club. She leaned over to look at her class- For a number of students in the class, sional and more excited about the work they
dents in the group — and even more in the mate’s laptop to see how their drone footage aeronautics was the planned focus after gradu- were doing. There were “visible shifts” he
nearby Aeronautics Lab — had just passed the of a rocket launch turned out. Nidhi Mahankali ation. Brynja had already committed to an explained, “when I gave them the chance to
Part 107 exam, the test for remote pilots to fly gave a little frown. The 11th grader wasn’t sure aeronautical university, and 11th grader Nitesh try something authentic.”
under the FAA’s Small UAS (Unmanned Air- if she, Brynja and the rest of their team had Amin also wanted to fly. “I would prefer to
craft Systems) Rule. That meant these students captured everything they wanted to for a solid become an actual airline pilot,” he said, “but
now had a lifetime certification to fly non-rec- promotional video for the club. They started this [unmanned drone work] would be a cool www.edenpr.org
reational unmanned drones under 55 pounds, discussing the weather over the next few days. opportunity.” Class visits from professionals
Would it be too cold for another launch?

From Classroom to Indianapolis Continued from Page 15
paper, followed by clay and cardboard models. Last year, the Mille Lacs Raiders Super Canada, Penn State, Duke University, Michigan in his classroom over the years, said, “the team
Students then transition to SolidWorks — the Mileage Team caught the attention of organizers Technological University, and the University of is grateful for the sponsorship and support it has
industry-standard design software used around from the Shell Eco-marathon, an international Engineering and Technology in Peru. received, not only this year but throughout the
the world. competition that primarily features collegiate- Not only did the team design and build a program’s 18-year history. Countless businesses,
Once the 3D digital model is complete, level teams. As a result, the team received an vehicle that successfully passed an intensive organizations, and community members have
students create sponsorship proposals and seek invitation to compete at the 2026 Shell Eco- 194-point inspection, but they also placed fifth contributed to its success along the way.” Kohl
financial support. After securing funding, they marathon Americas at the Indianapolis Motor in the world among high school teams and 19th went on to say, “the team is proud to represent
build and test their vehicle. Speedway. overall. the Onamia School District and the Mille Lacs
The year-long course culminates at the Onamia students immediately got to work, Following their return home, the team com- community not only at the state level, but also
MTEEA Super Mileage Competition, the largest spending the year modifying their vehicle to peted in the Minnesota state event with a second on an international stage.
high school Super Mileage competition in the meet the competition’s specifications. Along vehicle and earned a third-place overall finish. Reprinted with permission from the Mille
world, held each May at Brainerd International with three other Minnesota high schools, the Looking toward the future, the team hopes Lacs Messenger
Raceway. This two-day event hosts approxi- team loaded onto a coach bus and made the to attend the Shell Eco-marathon every other
mately 60 schools and more than 100 vehicles, journey to Indianapolis. year.
competing not for speed, but for efficiency— At the Shell Eco-marathon, the team com- Students who attended the event said it was www.onamia.k12.wi.us
determining who can travel the farthest using peted against colleges and high schools from truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
the least amount of fuel. Some schools have across the Americas, including institutions Onamia Technology Education instructor,
achieved more than 1,000 miles per gallon. such as the University of British Columbia in Tom Kohl, commenting on what has transpired