HSU Foundation donates drones, $20K to Saint Mary Catholic School

FORT WALTON BEACH — The HSU Educational Foundation is donating five drones and $20,000 to the Saint Mary Catholic School.

The donations are part of a new partnership to enhance the school’s STEM program and begin a new drone program at the school.

“We’re trying to partner with educational institutes to grow their participation in programs like this,” Amanda Negron, executive director of the HSU Educational Foundation said. “(St. Mary has) a multi-use facility where they can hold their own flight operations.”

The school is excited about the opportunity to enhance their student’s skill sets.

“We’re thrilled to have started this relationship with Dr. (Paul) Hsu and his foundation,” said Saint Mary principal Amy Akins. “We will work with them on exactly what we’ll be doing.”

The donations and partnership is a part of a larger project that the foundation is working on.

“We’re an outreach to the community in different areas,” Negron said. “We are expanding our drone team program to reach more schools in our community.”

Negron added that she anticipates the foundation’s partnership with the school growing in other areas, such as in cybersecurity.

“The students are going to learn a whole lot of assets,” Negron said. “They will also learn about mentoring skills.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HSU Foundation donates drones, $20K to Saint Mary Catholic School