Maryland Wing cadets won the Aademy of Model Aeronautics’ UAS4STEM drone competition Beginners division July 23, while their counterparts from the Alabama Wing placed third in the Advanced division.
Both squadrons were returning to the national finals at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, as was the Virginia Wing’s 55 Knights team — second-place finishers in the 2024 Beginners division.
UAS4STEM is the Academy for Model Aeronautics’ Unmanned Aerial Systems for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math program. Teams in both divisions designed and built a quadcopter Unmanned Aircraft System and programmed it for flight. The Advanced division teams guided their drones in flight and built an additional mechanism to complete another task.
The Maryland Wing team — cadets from St. Mary’s Composite Squadron and the Esperanza Middle School Flight — earned a $1,250 prize with its first-place Beginners performance. The St. Mary’s team also competed in the Beginners division in 2023, while the 2024 team reached the Advanced division.
In addition, Cadet Master Sgt. Rachel Rioux of the St. Mary’s squadron was recognized with the Dewey O. Broberg, Jr., Scholarship, awarded by competition judges to recognize a participant who shows dedication to their team, determination, and adherence to the event’s rules and purpose.
The Alabama Wing’s Redstone Composite Squadron was making its fifth straight appearance in the Advanced division. By finishing third, the cadet team was awarded $1,500.
Like last year, the 55 Knights roster included William P. Knight Composite Squadron members along with local Scouts.
The Maryland Wing cadets were:
St. Mary’s Composite Squadron
Cadet 1st Lt. Jakob Deboer
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Compton
Cadet Master Sgt. Rachel Rioux
Cadet Airman 1st Class Jackie Barrett
Cadet Airman Eli Barrett (team captain)
Esperanza Middle School Flight
Cadet Capt. Cody White
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Mya Lockhart
Rioux, Deboer, and the Barretts also competed last year.
Rounding out the Maryland Wing contingent were Col. Larry Trick, Lt. Cols. Glenn Rioux and David Trick, and Capt. Andrew Rioux. Col. Trick is CAP national character development instructor and the Esperanza flight’s aerospace officer, while Lt. Col. Trick is deputy commander for cadets for both the Esperanza flight and the St. Mary’s squadron. Lt. Col. Rioux is St. Mary’s activities officer, administrative officer, and squadron leadership officer, and Capt. Rioux is St. Mary’s assistant communications officer.
Redstone Composite Squadron
Cadet Lt. Col. Kristianna Berger
Cand 2nd Lt. Cole Pieratt
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Judah Cobert
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. William Mitchell
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Brody Stokes
Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Eugene Park
Cadet Airman 1st Class Jeremy Fielding, Jr.
Pieratt was a member of the squadron’s Beginners division entry last year, while the other six members belonged to the 2023 Advanced team.
Capt. Dan Anderson, Alabama Wing director of aerospace education, was team coach.
The 55 Knights team, which also included youth from Scouts BSA Troop 55B (Boy) and 55G (Girl), consisted of:
Cadet Capt. Annabelle Eggers
Cadet Capt. Thomas Ye (also an Eagle Scout in BSA Troop 55B)
Cadet 1st Lt. Qihong Liang (Eagle Scout in BSA Troop 55B)
Cadet Master Sgt. Vinita Adhira
Cadet Master Sgt. Ojasvi Ramani
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jackson Whitt
Cadet Senior Airman Madeline Lewis
Matthew Chou (Star Scout in BSA Troop 55B)
Cary Zhang (Tenderfoot Scout in BSA Troop 55B)
Ankia Huang (Scout in BSA Troop 55G)
Eggers, Ye, Liang, Ramani, Whitt, and Zhang are returning from last year.
Adult leaders were 1st Lts. Alexander Boon, the squadron’s aerospace education officer, and Jeff Ye, squadron aerospace and cyber education officer and Group 3 personnel officer.
