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HireSmart Cares Gives Flight to HS Drone Program

The Wall Street Times Staff

HireSmart Cares Empowers the Next Generation Through Practical Opportunities

HireSmart Cares has a mission to equip the next generation with practical skills and opportunities that encourage alternative pathways to success. By focusing on the 4Ts: Tools, Technology, Time, and Teaching, this nonprofit organization provides young people with the means to build promising futures without being unduly burdened by debt. One powerful example of this mission in action is the recent grant awarded to Terry Andre Hayes, a Naval Science instructor at Evan E. Worthing Early College High School in Houston, Texas, to support the school’s drone curriculum for its students.

Terry Andre Hayes, a 1979 graduate of Worthing High School, returned to his alma mater with a vision to inspire students through drone technology. He believed drones might open doors to new career paths, but the financial challenge of supplying adequate equipment stood in the way. Hayes had personally funded drones for his students, even at significant personal expense. “I spent a couple of nights on the couch,” Hayes joked about the sacrifices he made to sustain the program.

HireSmart Cares stepped in to help ease this burden. The organization, founded by Mark and Anne Lackey, awarded Hayes a $3,911.93 grant to expand Worthing’s drone program. This funding covered advanced equipment, including Holy Stone and CoDrone EDU drones, carrying cases, power packs, and maintenance supplies. It also supported transportation costs for competitions. By providing these resources, HireSmart enabled Hayes to elevate his program to competitive levels and inspire his students to pursue their potential.

The drone program at Worthing High School exemplifies HireSmart Cares’ broader mission to “equip the next generation.” The organization’s focus on practical skills and career alternatives aligns with Hayes’ approach. His students, who maintain an impressive 3.52 GPA, also participate in a dual-credit program with Houston Community College, earning tuition waivers and college credits. This, too, reflects HireSmart’s commitment to reducing financial barriers and providing pathways to success beyond traditional four-year course degrees.

HireSmart Cares Gives Flight to HS Drone Program

Photo Courtesy: Hiresmartcares.org

HireSmart Cares operates across three primary focus areas:

U.S. Career Development: Filling the gaps in the future workforce, HireSmart Cares promotes alternatives to traditional college pathways through grants to help kids develop hands-on, job-ready skills.
U.S. Agriculture: With dwindling numbers of farming families in the country, HireSmart Cares encourages the youth to sustain local farming communities by funding agricultural education initiatives.
Filipino Scholarships: HireSmart funds educational scholarships for the children of its dedicated employees in the Philippines.

Through these initiatives, HireSmart provides young adults with resources such as seed money for start-ups, trades-based school grants, and job-readiness coaching. By focusing on practical, skills-based education, the organization addresses the challenges of rising education costs by helping non-college-bound students find their most suitable career option.

Drone technology offers students a unique opportunity to enter a growing industry with applications in public safety, real estate, construction, and beyond. The average drone pilot salary in the U.S. is estimated to be around $82,976 per year, offering a potential career path without the need for a four-year degree. With HireSmart’s support, Hayes hopes his students will not only compete at district and state levels but also pursue certifications that could open doors to careers in drone operations.

HireSmart Cares’ support doesn’t stop with Hayes. The organization hopes to replicate the success of the Worthing drone program in other schools across the nation. Georgia-based First Sergeant Francisco Ramey plays a pivotal role in spreading drone education through JROTC units nationwide. By bridging the gap between educators like Hayes and HireSmart’s resources, Ramey is working to ensure that more young people gain access to these transformative opportunities.

Photo Courtesy: Hiresmartcares.org

HireSmart Cares continues to make a positive impact by providing youth with opportunities to succeed in innovative, practical ways. Through partnerships with educators, community leaders, and donors, the organization is contributing to a brighter future for the next generation.

To hear Co-founder Mark Lackey talk about HireSmart Cares’ mission, visit hiresmartcares.org/impact. To learn more about HireSmart expanding the drone program to more schools, you may visit their website here.