(Estherville, Iowa) – Iowa Lakes Community College is using an almost $500,000 Federal Aviation Administration grant, received this spring, to take its aviation education offerings to new heights. The community college, with five locations throughout northwest Iowa, received $493,657 through the FAA Pilot Workforce Development Grant Program, allowing the college to launch a course in drone piloting for high school students and expand its aviation and airport management program, according to a news release.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the FAA’s Pilot Workforce Development Grant Program,” said Tim Busch, director of the aviation program and chief flight instructor, in the release. “The funding will enable us to enhance our top-ranked aviation program, currently recognized as the number one program among community colleges and third nationwide.”

High school students from Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto counties will be able to enroll in the remote pilot course, according to the release, which will start with its first class in early 2025. The program will teach students about flying unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, and earn them up to four college credits. This will also help them more easily transfer into the college’s aviation and airport management program.

Executive Dean Kyle Norris said in a previous interview that programming like the course being offered to students next year will help the college connect with more young people. He said he hopes to show them there is more to the aviation industry than flying commercial planes.

Those interested in joining a prospective student list can email FAA Grant Coordinator Emily Mullaly at emullaly@iowalakes.edu, the release stated.

In addition to the new course, the community college will also use grant dollars to expand the drone program and implement the first “rotary wing curriculum” offered in Iowa, according to the release.

“Our focus is on creating new learning opportunities for high school students, and we are excited to expand our drone and rotary wing programs while building a connection with area high school students and the aviation industry,” Busch said in the release.