Community College Drone Challenge

2025-2026 Quadcopter Challenge Notes and Winners

This year’s Community College Quadcopter Challenge soared to new heights as it moved to the Hursey Center at the University of Hartford. Teams from across CT State Community College campuses came together to put their engineering, creativity, and piloting skills to the test.

Participating CT State Community College Campuses:

• Asnuntuck
• Gateway
• Housatonic
• Manchester
• Middlesex
• Naugatuck Valley
• Northwestern
• Quinebaug Valley
• Tunxis

On April 17, 2026, the UHart campus buzzed with energy as teams unveiled their custom quadcopter designs and competed in a series of technical and flight challenges. From smooth, graceful flights to dramatic mid‑air mishaps, the day delivered plenty of excitement. Each team presented a video and poster to the judges and completed two live flight sessions to demonstrate their drone’s capabilities.

2026 Challenge Awards

• Best Video: CT State CC: Tunxis
• Best Poster & Presentation: CT State CC: Gateway
• Best Weight Reduction: CT State CC: Housatonic
• Best 3D Design (Tie): CT State CC: Tunxis AND CT State CC: Northwestern
• Best Multi‑Pilot Flight (Tie): CT State CC: Tunxis AND CT State CC: Gateway
• Best Sample Collection: CT State CC: Asnuntuck
• Best Autonomous Flight: No scores
• Best Photography & Mapping: CT State CC: Asnuntuck

Overall Event Winner: CT State CC – Asnuntuck

Congratulations to all participating students and team leaders for their impressive designs, innovative thinking, and fearless flying. A special thank‑you goes to the University of Hartford faculty, staff, and volunteers for providing an outstanding venue and warm hospitality throughout the event.

2024-2025 Quadcopter Challenge Notes and Winners

The Community College Quadcopter Challenge was returned to Alumni Hall at CCSU for another successful year. Teams representing the following CT State Community Colleges took part inthe Challenge:

• Asnuntuck 
• Manchester
• Middlesex
• Naugatuck Valley 
• Northwestern 
• Quinebaug Valley
• Tunxis 

Teams gathered at the CCSU campus on April 19, 2024 to show off their quadcopter designs and compete in a variety of challenges. The event was full of cheerful flights and spectacular crashes as each team had a video and presentation made to judges, plus two short flight times to show what their quadcopter could do in-person.

Awards were presented to the following:

• Best Video: CT State CC: Northwestern
• Best Poster & Presentation: CT State CC: Manchester
• Best Weight Reduction: CT State CC: Asnuntuck
• Best 3D Design: TIE: CT State CC: Naugatuck Valley
• Best Multi-pilot Flight: CT State CC: Manchester
• Best Sample Collection: CT State CC: Quinebaug Valley
• Best Autonomous Flight: No Winner
• Best Photography & Mapping: CT State CC: Manchester

Overall Event Winner: CT State CC: Manchester

Congratulations to all team members and leaders on their successful designs and flights. And thank you to CCSU and the faculty and staff  for the wonderful event space and gracious hospitality.

2023-2024 Quadcopter Challenge Notes and Winners

The Community College Quadcopter Challenge was excited to return to CCSU for a third year - this time to Alumni Hall. Teams representing Asnuntuck Community College, Middlesex Community College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, and Tunxis Community College gathered at CCSU on April 19, 2024 to show off their quadcopter designs and compete in a variety of challenges. The event was full of cheerful flights and spectacular crashes as each team had a video and presentation made to judges, plus 10 minutes to show what their quadcopter could do in-person.

Awards were presented to the following:

• Best Video: Tunxis Community College
• Best Poster & Presentation: Northwestern Connecticut Community College
• Best Weight Reduction: Tunxis Community College
• Best 3D Design: TIE: Middlesex Community College and Northwestern Connecticut Community College
• Best Sample Collection: Asnuntuck Community College
• Best Autonomous Flight: Middlesex Community College
• Best Photography & Mapping: Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Overall Event Winner: Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Congratulations to all team members and leaders on their successful designs and flights. And thank you to CCSU and the faculty and staff  for the wonderful event space and gracious hospitality.

2022-2023 Quadcopter Challenge Notes and Winners

The Community College Quadcopter Challenge was excited to return to the Applied Innovation Hub at CCSU for a second year of our event. Teams representing Naugatuck Valley Community College, Northwest Connecticut Community College, and Quinnebaug Valley Community College gathered at CCSU on April 21, 2023 to show off their quadcopter designs and compete in a variety of challenges. The event was full of cheerful flights and spectacular crashes as each team had a video and presentation made to judges, plus 10 minutes to show what their quadcopter could do in-person.

Awards were presented to the following:

• Best Video: Naugatuck Valley Community College
• Best Poster & Presentation: Naugatuck Valley Community College
• Best Weight Reduction: Quinnebaug Valley Community College
• Best 3D Design: Northwestern Connecticut Community College
• Best Sample Collection: Northwestern Connecticut Community College
• Best Autonomous Flight: Northwestern Connecticut Community College
• Best Photography & Mapping: Naugatuck Valley Community College

Overall Event Winner: Naugatuck Valley Community College

Congratulations to all team members and leaders on their successful designs and flights. And thank you to CCSU and the faculty and staff of the Applied Innovation Hub for the wonderful event space and gracious hospitality.

2021-2022 Quadcopter Challenge Notes and Winners

The Community College Quadcopter Challenge was excited to return to in-person after a hiatus due to the pandemic. Teams representing Norwalk Community College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Northwest Connecticut Community College, Quinnebaug Valley Community College and Tunxis Community College gathered at CCSU on April 29, 2022 to show off their quadcopter designs and compete in a variety of challenges. The event was full of cheerful flights and spectacular crashes as each team had a video and presentation made to judges, plus 10 minutes to show what their quadcopter could do in-person.

Awards were presented to the following:

• Best Video: Norwalk Community College
• Best Poster & Presentation: Naugatuck Valley Community College
• Best Weight Reduction: Northwest Connecticut Community College
• Best 3D Design: Quinnebaug Valley Community College
• Best Sample Collection: Tunxis Community College
• Best Photography & Mapping: Naugatuck Valley Community College

Overall Event Winner: Naugatuck Valley Community College

Congratulations to all team members and leaders on their successful designs and flights. And thank you to CCSU and the faculty and staff of the Applied Innovation Hub for the wonderful event space and gracious hospitality.