Juliana Lujan-Rodriguez, Local 10 Intern

Published: July 30, 2026 at 10:34 AM

Updated: July 30, 2026 at 10:41 AM

lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandFPL presents the first ever FPL Drones in Schools Scholarship to Ashley Vanegas-Fonseca at her alma mater, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College Wednesday July 29, 2026 in Miami, FL. (David Adame/For FPL) (David Adame)

A local Miami-Dade County student was surprised with balloons, university swag, and life-changing news Wednesday night.

Florida, Power & Light announced in a news release that Ashley Vargas-Fonseca was selected as a recipient for FPL’s first ever Drones in School Scholarship.

The $5,000 scholarship recognizes her academic achievements and passion for drone technology. Ashley, a recent graduate at George T. Baker Aviation Technical School, completed multiple robotics competitions that boosted her team to first place at the Florida Drones in School State Championship and Drones in School National Championship.

This fall, Ashley will attend Santa Fe College in Gainesville, where she plans to major in electrical engineering.

“I’m having trouble with my tuition, as of now, but knowing that I have this scholarship in my hand will definitely be a weight off my shoulder,” Ashley said.

This scholarship is a part of FPL’s commitment to prepare and support STEAM education and prepare for the next generation of innovators.

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