Project on Drones Earns Student Science Honor

Raul Lopez, a student with Pomona Unified School District’s Fremont Academy was recently honored for a science project he submitted to the Los Angeles County Science Fair.

Lopez had displayed his award-winning science fair project at the California Science Fair in late March, according to school district officials.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Raul,” Richard Martinez, superintendent of Pomona Unified School District said.  “He is a great role model for his fellow students and for all of us at PUSD.”

Lopez’s project was titled “Effects of Altitude on Drones.” It won second place in the Los Angeles County Fair’s Engineering Application category and earned the fair’s Navy Certificate and Medal.

For the project, Lopez flew remote controlled drones up to the stratosphere, testing the high-altitude effects on radio frequency, stability and other components of the machines, according to district officials.

Lopez has taken his projects to the LA County Science Fair three times. This was his first time at the state competition, officials said.

Lorbeer Middle School student Jane Whatley also earned recognition and an award but did not advance to the state fair, district officials said. Whatley was honored by the Professional Engineers in California Government for her project, “Too Many Toothpicks: An Emprrical Analysis of Wooden Structures.”

The California Science Fair began April 15 and will continue through April 17 at Exposition Park in Los Angeles.