Lighting up the sky for thousands, students and alumni from College of Western Idaho’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program used their skills and knowledge to help produce a drone light show at the 31st Annual Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic’s Night Glow Spectacular Friday, Sept. 2.
A newly-added feature at this year’s event, the drone light show involved 200 drones flying in a pre-programmed formation of notable Boise staples and icons, such as the Boise Train Depot, Idaho State Capitol, the City of Boise skyline, Boise State quarterback, Kellen Moore, and more.
Unmanned Aerial Systems instructor, Tim Schuh, said the opportunity was presented to his current and former students through CWI President Gordon Jones.
Spirit of Boise sponsor, CapEd Credit Union, worked with the drone company, Sky Elements Drone Shows, to hire recruits to help put on the show. Around that same time, CapEd leadership met with President Jones and sent him a request for assistance from the College.
Schuh was able to enlist help from CWI students, Doug Beatty, Kendall Gunter, BC Robbins, and Dustin Tatum, and CWI graduates, Corey Bingham, Steve Porterfield (also a Teaching Assistant with the College), and Mitch Triska.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for our students and graduates to see how the knowledge and skills they acquire at CWI can be put to use in the real world. Being able to help put on an amazing show for a local audience made it that much better,” Schuh said.
