May 15, 2026
Four Prince George High School seniors will walk across the stage at graduation on Friday, May 29, 2026, with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment, along with a unique set of skills and certifications that will make them in-demand in the workforce after earning their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to pilot unmanned drones.
Alondra Aponte, Landyn Davis, Jacob Germanos, and Nathaniel Hott completed the required studies and hands-on experience to earn their pilot’s license for these devices. Receiving this formal certification means these students can pilot drones for commercial aviation purposes, such as aerial photography, land surveying, and many of the ever-developing ways these devices are being used by businesses every day.
“Now these students are able to say, ‘I can fly for you,’ and actually receive compensation,” Mr. Burch Surgeon, Prince George High School Robotics & Drone Technology teacher, said.
Over the last few years, nearly a dozen students in Mr. Surgeon’s program have completed the requirements to earn FAA certification, studying topics such as aviation regulations, the effects of weather and climate on drone operations, and other material commonly covered in traditional pilot training.
“It’s important they know these things because, at the end of the day, they are putting an aircraft into the air in FAA airspace. It’s truly amazing to be able to see what these students are doing, and it lets me know that what we are doing here is helping them to be successful because they have this certification now as they graduate high school,” Mr. Surgeon closed.
To learn more about Career & Technical Education and PGCPS, visit our CTE website.