Recognizing Solanco High School Students for Their Performance At the 2025 Student Drone Challenge

Floor Speech

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Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize and congratulate Solanco High School students Robert Baxter, Lucas Vilk, and Caleb Reed on their success in the 2025 Student Drone Challenge.

The Student Drone Challenge is hosted by the Interaction of Ionizing Radiation with Matter University Research Alliance (IIRM-URA), which is a collaborative partnership between universities, laboratories, and industrial companies. Funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the IIRM-URA's primary concern is to mitigate threats against weapons of mass destruction. The competition is an opportunity for students to learn and engage in the fields that IIRM-URA supports.

The 2025 challenge involved a virtual drone simulation where students conducted reconnaissance to identify radiological threats in a building captured by friendly forces. Pitting over 800 competitors including those from university, high school, and middle school--the Solanco High School students took the top spots on the podium. Robert Baxter placed 1st overall, Lucas Vilk placed 2nd for high school students, and Caleb Reed placed 3rd for high school students.

I am grateful for educational programs that broaden our students' horizons. I congratulate the winning students, and I look forward to what their bright futures hold.

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