Batesville once again made a significant impact on the national stage as the host city for the 2025 National All-Service JROTC Aerial Drone Championship. For the second consecutive year, South Panola High School played a key role in organizing the event, which attracted teams from across the country, including participants from as far as American Samoa.

Gov. Tate Reeves and a host of other state, county, and city officials were in attendance for opening or closing ceremonies. 

Lt. Col. Leonard Boothe, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at South Panola High School, reflected on the significance of the event. “This event is more than just a competition; it’s a testament to the can-do spirit of small towns and communities across America,” said Boothe. “While national events are typically held in large cities like Atlanta, Dallas, or Washington, D.C., Batesville has proven that even smaller cities can host national events with tremendous success.”

A highlight of the event was the “State of STEM” Luncheon at the Boothe Event Center, featuring a panel of distinguished STEM leaders who discussed the rapid growth of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education. 

The panel, which includedDan Mantz, David Campbell, President and COO of Aero Design Lab, Conor Ferguson, Co-Founder of WISPr, Jason Pannell, Unmanned Aerial Systems Instructor at CTE Lee County School District, and Dr. LaRico Treadwell, CEO of E4 Consulting, was moderated by Dr. Del Phillips, South Panola superintendent,.

The discussion focused on how Mississippi can position itself as a leader in STEM education and workforce development.

Dan Mantz, CEO of the REC Foundation, also attended and commended the impressive growth of drone teams nationwide.

 “Three years ago, there were only 400 teams competing. For the 2024-2025 season, that number has skyrocketed to over 2,200 teams,” Mantz said. “The Batesville competition has become our largest and fastest-growing event, expanding from 60 teams last year to more than 85 teams this year.”

The competition culminated on Saturday, April 5, with the 2025 National All-Service JROTC Aerial Drone Championship Award Ceremony. 

While the top prize went to the team from Camdenton High School in Camdenton, Missouri, Mississippi’s teams showcased impressive performances. 

The South Panola High School AFJROTC Drone Team took home 1st place in the United States Air Force Service Championship and the Horn Lake High School Marine JROTC Drone Team won 1st place in the Marine Corps Service Championship, bolstering the chances of establishing a National JROTC/MS STEM initiative in Mississippi.

TSgt Rodney Williams, who founded South Panola’s Drone Program four years ago, expressed immense pride in the team’s accomplishments. “This win is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of our students,” Williams said. “Just like our drone team, the South Panola School District, the city of Batesville, and the entire community worked together to showcase Batesville and the state of Mississippi.”

This event not only highlighted the growing influence of drone technology in education but also demonstrated the incredible potential of small-town America to host large-scale national events, leaving a lasting impact on the future of STEM education.