Through a collaboration with Peachtree Corners, Georgia and the city’s startup incubator, Prototype Prime, the new Paul Duke STEM High School in Norcross, Georgia was awarded a 2019 Infinite Energy STEAM Education Grant of $2,000, which will be used to launch the school’s UAS program.

​The UAS program will be designed to engage students in the full life cycle of designing, building and operating UAS for professional applications, as well as racing.

The first STEM focused high school in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Paul Duke STEM High School will use the grant to begin purchasing the specialty equipment needed to conduct aerial photography and videography for city planning, as well as marketing projects, and producing a live drone show, according to Stephen Cochran, the school’s program sponsor and engineering and computer science teacher.

Students will also have access to Prototype Prime’s intelligent mobility experts, 3D laboratory, and Sprint’s 5G capable Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners.

“The students at Paul Duke STEM High School have an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit,” says Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason.

“They are our future technology leaders. The city of Peachtree Corners is thrilled to support their training and development, and we look forward to partnering on many exciting projects.”

According to Peachtree Corners, the deciding factor to award the grant to Paul Duke STEM High School was the students’ practical application of this technology. Students will have the city’s support as they work with Peachtree Corner's Public Works Department to help with storm water inspections using UAS to photograph areas that are hard to access on foot.