On Nov. 7, 2025, St. Michael’s Prep in Austin is proud to host the Advanced Vertical Robotics (AVR) regional competition for the second year in a row. This program, designed for high school students, teaches industry-based skills for long-term workforce development. The purpose of this competition is to challenge students by providing them with a real-world simulation where their team must program a portion of the competition for drone automation, as well as pilot several coordinated drones to achieve a specified goal.
At St. Michael’s Prep, our team consists of students in the Robotics and Design class, as well as members of the LightSaders, our Upper School Competitive Robotics team. Built upon a solid middle school engineering and science foundation, our Upper School FTC team remains dedicated to advancing in innovation, CAD design, creative builds, and constant evolution, redefining the limits of robotics.
“As I begin my college search, I was pleasantly surprised to see so much similarity between what the college students are doing and what we have accomplished on the Drone Team. Even much of the equipment was the same.” Henry H., Class of ‘27
Preparation begins months in advance, with our student engineers and programmers utilizing AI to program drones to make real-time decisions – a process that takes tremendous simulations and iterations to train. Students utilize augmented reality headsets to train and program, as well as practice piloting skills. St. Michael’s Prep is honored to host outstanding students on a campus designed for innovation, featuring indoor drone flight facilities and a commitment to advancing hands-on, future-focused STEM education.
About St. Michael’s Catholic Preparatory School
St. Michael’s Catholic Preparatory School is the result of the bold unification of two outstanding Independent Catholic Schools in Southwest Austin: St. Gabriel’s Catholic School, founded in 1999 for grades PK-8, and St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, founded in 1984 for grades 9-12. The unification allows for excellent, innovative programming for students in grades Pre-K3 – 12, specifically: a seamless alignment of curriculum, athletics, fine arts, and STEM; robust and challenging academics with a foundation of Social Emotional Learning, and; a warm and inviting community rooted in Catholic identity.
Known for their unparalleled dedication to an exceptional experience, St. Michael’s Prep faculty and students alike are recognized through national notable awards and recent State Championships in Basketball, Swimming, Dance and Robotics.
The “St. Michael’s Prep Difference” is one hallmarked by an independent and innovative educational experience, a deeply committed and vibrant school spirit and culture, and a profoundly unique and transformative fifteen-year journey for every student.
For more information, visit https://www.smcprep.org/