On March 28, students got a close-up look at various drones, one of which cost thousands of dollars. The K-State Polytechnic Roadshow is an event where K-state faculty members travel around the state to bring hands-on interactive demonstrations that incorporate the same technologies their students use daily in all their labs and coursework, including drones from their uncrewed aircraft systems training program. They use this event to show off the world of STEM education and the multiple different programs they offer on their campus. 

The roadshow had five booths that students could engage in for 20-minute sessions, including taking a look at the drone, graphic design, aerospace engineering, and social work programs. They also had a booth discussing general information about K-State’s Salina campus. 

The information seemed to help some students but not all of them. 

“[The information was] sort of helpful,” senior Jade Mellecker said. “It was for other people maybe but not for me because I’m not going into that kind of stuff.” 

Even if it wasn’t helpful to everyone, some students said it was fun. 

“It was sick to have them down here,” freshman Jack Hesse said. 

Many students seemed to like the station about drone flying. 

“[My favorite station was] the drone one,” freshman Ashton Stull said. “Drones are cool.”