Some Hernando County students are taking to the sky in the name of education.
The high schoolers are part of a unique drone program designed to teach them how the high-tech gadgets can help land them a job.
The steady humm of a drone can sometimes be heard around the campus of Hernando High School these days. Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are at the center of a new program at the school.
"We strive to always try to find something different. Stay on the cutting edge of technology," said agriculture and science teacher Rick Ahrens.
Ahrens is heading up the program that teaches students all about drones. The focus is on learning how to use them for farming. UAVs are a big help when it comes to looking for crop damage and saving resources.
"(They can) bring the information back and show it to the farmer and then the farmer only has to go out and spray right where the problem is or water right where the problem is," Ahrens said..
A lot of time is also spent on rules and safety. The program is funded by a state grant, and Hernando High is just one of 15 schools in Florida that got the money.
It is the first year of the program and there are six students involved. At the end of the one-year program, students can get an industry certification and land a job flying a drone. Justin Walker signed up for the program the minute he heard about it.
"It is really different to come to school and be able to learn about UAVs," he said.