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Herbicide Notice

The Pendleton School District Facilities will be applying an herbicide treatment across the district to all lawns, ornamentals, and sports fields the week of March 23-27, 2026.

PSD CTE Month FEB 2026 Brady Chichester

CTE Month – February 2026 Spotlight: Brady Chichester

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CTE Month – February 2026
Spotlight: Pendleton High School Graduate Brady Chichester

During Career Technical Education (CTE) Month, Pendleton High School reached out to a few PHS graduates who are working in CTE fields. Brady Chichester, PHS Class of 2020, is a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) Operator and Instructor for Delmar AeroEducation, part of Delmar Aerospace based in Nevada. Chichester works at the Pendleton Airport.

As a student at PHS, Chichester was first introduced to UAS through a Military Science class, which included a tour of the Army National Guard facility and conversations with UAS operators. “That sparked my initial interest in UAS and led me to seek out the nearest college program after I graduated, which happened to be Central Oregon Community College (COCC) in Bend, as BMCC did not yet have a UAS program,” he said.

Chichester earned a degree in Unmanned Aerial Systems Operations, which took about two years to complete. The coursework included a mix of UAS-specific classes, aerodynamics, meteorology, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems). He also had to take either a fixed-wing or helicopter private pilot class, which went more in depth than a UAS pilot typically needs, but he found it beneficial since he plans to earn his private pilot’s license in the future.

At Delmar Aerospace, he is the lead instructor for their Non-Credit Training Certificate (NCTC) course, which covers general aviation knowledge such as weather, airspace, and regulations, along with in-depth flight simulations that prepare students for real-world operations. Chichester is also helping create and prepare a new FPV (First Person View) drone course for an upcoming Department of Defense contract. Another recent project involved working with the AeroEnergy crew on methane detection at landfills using UAS.

“My job duties change from month to month, which keeps things interesting. Teaching and working with students takes up the majority of my time, but I still get the opportunity to take on different projects here and there to keep things interesting and even have the possibility of deploying overseas for extended periods.”

What is his advice for high school students interested in the UAS field? He recommends a strong foundation in engineering, robotics, computers, aerospace or related technical fields. “There are still plenty of strictly piloting jobs, but having those skills on top of flying will benefit you greatly. It can be a challenging industry to break into,” he said. He shared that another route that can provide valuable experience is flying UAS in the military, primarily with the Air Force or Army; this is especially helpful for deploying overseas for private companies, which can be a lucrative path.

Chichester also points to the Pendleton hometown advantage, which presents unique opportunities and accessible pathways into the industry. Students can gain valuable experience by interning either directly through the UAS accelerator or through BMCC’s UAS program. “These opportunities are a great way to make connections and begin building a professional network early,” Chichester said.

The UAS industry is rapidly expanding, Chichester continued, making this an excellent time to enter the field in whichever sector interests someone, whether that is oil and gas, defense, agriculture, or many other industries that rely on UAS. “Each industry offers opportunities that go far beyond flying, including roles in research and development, system testing, sales, instruction, and many areas in between. If you are interested in UAS, explore the different paths available, find the niche that excites you most, and get involved as early as you can.”

PSD CTE Month FEB 2026 Brady Chichester

PSD CTE Month FEB 2026 Evan Miller

CTE Month – February 2026 Spotlight: Evan Miller

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CTE Month – February 2026
Spotlight: Pendleton High School Graduate Evan Miller

During Career Technical Education (CTE) Month, Pendleton High School reached out to a few PHS graduates who are working in CTE fields. Evan Miller, PHS Class of 2018, is a Flight Test Operator for Amazon. He works near the Pendleton Airport and uses the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) Range at his job.

As a student at PHS, Miller was on the robotics team, working in the FTC and FRC programs. He said the experience was a lot of fun and he really enjoyed it. He also took some engineering classes at PHS, including 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) and general engineering/manufacturing. “All of it was stuff I was very interested in. Not every skill transfers over one-for-one to the job I do now, but it teaches you the mentality of problem-solving and working with a team,” Miller said.

During the second half of his senior year at PHS, Miller did an internship at the UAS Range, which gave him exposure to that career field, building and flying small drones, and learning the technology and how to apply it. He also did a few job shadows with companies working at the range then. “It was great to get to know some people in the field, because when people remember your face and your name, that’s really what helps open doors later.”

Initially, he wanted to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering, but first attended BMCC, earning his Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree and an Associate of Science degree. He also earned his drone operator license. Through a previous mentor at the UAS Range, he found out Amazon was hiring for positions in Pendleton. After competing against graduates from four-year universities, he was hired in fall 2019.

At Amazon, his team tests drones that deliver packages to homes, which Amazon uses in large cities. Miller said his team’s goal every day is to fly the drone through specific test scenarios, and when they encounter something that stops the drone from flying, they solve it. “It’s very dynamic, it’s different every day, and we’ve got to be real scrappy and find solutions. I also like the mix of indoor and outdoor work,” he said.

Miller said the drone field is changing rapidly; he believes the research and development and flight test areas of the field are high demand/high wage careers. However, the skill of flying drones by hand is not as important anymore, because it’s all automated.

What is Miller’s advice for high school students interested in the UAS field? “Get exposure to everything technology, to aerospace and aviation,” he said.

He also shared that Pendleton youth don’t have to leave the community to find successful careers. “The sentiment for a lot of young people in Pendleton is that you have to leave, if you don’t leave immediately you are just kind of stuck where you are,” Miller said. “I want to say that you don’t have to leave your hometown to find something good, which is why I am glad there are more companies wanting to come in, lay some roots and hire more people in our community.”

PSD CTE Month FEB 2026 Evan Miller

PSD CTE Month FEB 2026 UAS Range

CTE Month – February 2026 Spotlight: Pendleton UAS Range

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CTE Month – February 2026
Spotlight: Pendleton UAS Range, Interview with Jesse Steele, UAS Range Manager

One of Pendleton’s large economic drivers is something many people never notice. The UAS Range at the Pendleton Airport covers 14,000 square miles and attracts companies from around the world to test their equipment. But most people never see it.

UAS stands for Unmanned Aerial Systems, commonly known as drones. Jesse Steele is the new manager of the range. Retired from the U.S. Navy, he started managing the range in October 2025. Steele describes the range as “a dedicated place where any type of drone company can come to legally and safely test their equipment in a protected environment.” He explains that while the range hosts some large, significant companies, it’s also here to help anyone achieve their dreams. “There are people who just have this really great idea regarding drones and technology and are scraping by to make their dream come true, so we help them with that,” Steele said.

Steele said the range’s staff is small, but their motto is “find a way to say YES.” They are constantly communicating with individuals and companies to keep up with rapidly changing technology in the UAS field so they can best serve their customers. More than 175 companies have worked at the UAS Range, with their employees staying in hotels and eating at restaurants in Pendleton.

Steele said he plans to work with Pendleton High School to eventually re-establish a job shadow/job internship program for students to learn about the UAS career field. He said there are many different types of jobs, from engineering and manufacturing parts of the drone to designing electronics and circuitry to computer coding and drone piloting. Drones are used for precision agriculture, forestry, wildfires, search and rescue, utility inspections, and new uses all the time.

What kinds of classes should students take if they are interested in this career? Steele said any STEM class is good, and math, physics, and engineering are helpful, but “My advice for students is to follow your interests. Don’t feel like you have to be an engineer to get into UAS, don’t see that as a roadblock. You don’t have to earn a four-year engineering degree to do some of the things we do.”

Industry-wide there is a shortage of drone pilots, and initial certification is fairly easy to obtain, said Steele. He often gets asked by companies using the range if he knows anyone with experience in drone piloting.

Soft skills like learning how to talk with adults, presenting yourself, communicating well with others, networking, customer service and learning how to collaborate are also things that Steele said students should strive to learn.

“If you are the entrepreneur with a dream, you are never going to see that dream realized if you don’t know how to interact with the rest of the people required to get there.”

PSD CTE Month FEB 2026 UAS Range

PHS Culinary

Culinary Program Creates Holiday Fare

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Students in the Pendleton High School Culinary Program have been busy preparing holiday food this month.

They recently made baked goods for a bake sale for employees of the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI). Creations included cookies, brownies, Swiss rolls, and cinnamon rolls.

Then they prepared dinner for the EOCI Employee Christmas Party for about 120 people on December 12, 2025. The menu was homemade dinner rolls, Caesar salad with homemade croutons, apple harvest salad with roasted sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, potato dish, maple and cumin glazed roasted carrots, grilled New York steaks, and chicken thighs. Kaden Clark, PHS Food Teacher, said he is letting the students choose what to make for dessert.

Clark said he wants students to feel confident about preparing food for a large group. “Sometimes, catering events or preparing food for a large group can be intimidating, so I want them to feel good about their skills in the kitchen. I know they can do it,” Clark said. He also wants them to understand how much planning and labor go into preparing food, as well as the business side of it.

Jasmine, PHS Senior, was helping prepare the homemade dinner rolls for the EOCI dinner. She said she enjoys the teamwork of preparing food. Senior Sophia said she likes the thrill of having to get everything done in a timely manner.

Another student in Foods IV, PHS Senior Cole, was cutting carrots for roasting. He said he has learned quite a bit about the business side of the food industry, like if you mess up a big order, that’s a lot of time and money lost. But his biggest takeaway? “I enjoy making the food and especially eating the food.”PHS Culinary PHS Culinary PHS Culinary PHS Culinary PHS Culinary

Hawthorne Science Class

Science Class at the Umatilla River

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Students in a science class at Hawthorne Alternative High School are enjoying some hands-on learning at the Umatilla River this semester.

According to Andrew Sneed, Science Teacher, the students visit the Umatilla River multiple times and collect macroinvertebrates. They then quantify and classify each species. “With our collected data at the end of the semester, we will calculate the biodiversity index of macroinvertebrates in the river,” Sneed said.

A macroinvertebrate is a large (visible to the naked eye) invertebrate (animal without a backbone) that lives in or near water, such as insects, snails, crayfish, and worms. Macroinvertebrates serve as a key indicator of aquatic ecosystem health because their presence and types reflect water quality.

In December, students used nets to collect samples, then sorted and collected the macroinvertebrates. The following day, they used a macroinvertebrate field guide to classify and quantify the samples. At the end of the semester, student groups will create a poster that shows the biodiversity index equation and a graph to show the level of biodiversity in the river.

Sneed said students really enjoy and look forward to going to the river. “It gives them hands-on experience and interaction within their own ecosystem and how seasonal changes affect different species. A big takeaway we talked about in December is how water temperatures affect the abundance of different species compared to collections during warmer seasons of the river.”

Hawthorne Science Class 2 Hawthorne Science Class

PHS Tribal Dance

Tribal Dance Presentation at PHS

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Pendleton High School students and staff enjoyed a tribal dance presentation in Warberg Court on Friday, November 14th, as part of Native American Heritage Month. Thank you to the singers and dancers from CTUIR for sharing your cultural traditions with us.

PHS Tribal Dance PHS Tribal Dance PHS Tribal Dance PHS Tribal Dance PHS Tribal Dance PHS Tribal Dance PHS Tribal Dance

PSD Logo

National Principals Month

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October is National Principals’ Appreciation Month!  We’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible principals who lead with heart, vision, and dedication every single day. Our principals work tirelessly to create schools where students feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn. Their leadership uplifts staff, strengthens families, and shapes the future of our community.

💚💛 Join us in saying thank you to our principals for all they do to make a difference—one student, one classroom, and one day at a time.

#ThankAPrincipal #PrincipalAppreciationMonth #LeadershipMatters

National Principals Month October 2025

Blakely Rudolph

Welcome to PSD – Blakely Rudolph

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Blakely Rudolph
English Language Arts Teacher
Pendleton High School & Hawthorne High School

Blakely grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and moved to the Pacific Northwest when she was 15 years old. She moved to Eastern Oregon a year ago.

She attended Whitworth University to earn her bachelor’s degree and later earned her master’s degree at Eastern Oregon University.

What is Blakely most excited about working in the Pendleton School District? “I am most excited to watch Buckaroo sports and learn the culture of Pendleton School District this year.”

In her free time, she loves concerts, hiking, crocheting, and cooking!

Blakely Rudolph

Fall Sports Parent Night

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Pendleton High School is hosting a parent information night for fall sports on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 7:00 pm.  If you have questions, please call Micki at 541-966-3802.

PHS Astra Club

PHS ASTRA Club Focuses on Service & Wins Award

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The PHS ASTRA club is affiliated with Altrusa International of Pendleton. With about 45 student members, it is the largest service club at Pendleton High School. Last school year (2023-24), Club President Kyah Hunter and Service Chair Torie Estrada applied for and received a grant in the amount of $748 from the Altrusa International Foundation’s project grant, based in Chicago. The grant was for cancer care kits to give comfort to patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy treatments in Pendleton. Club President Hunter wanted to honor and remember her softball pitching coach, Jordan Bennett, who passed away from cancer at a very young age.

The grant monies were combined with a donation from an Altrusan, who furnished the colorful bags. The bags contained small, fleece lap blankets, crossword and sudoku puzzle books, lip balm, hand cream, and other small items to provide comfort to patients receiving treatment. Brielle Bonzani, this year’s ASTRA Club President, and Service Chair Max Ross, along with other club members, donated the items to the CHI St. Anthony Cancer Clinic for distribution to patients undergoing treatment.

ASTRA members shared that the staff, director of the clinic, and patients were blown away by the quality of the donation.

In addition to this project, the PHS ASTRA club received first place for the project “Fun and Games: Developing Intergenerational Connections” at the ASTRA District 12 Convention in May. They received a service award certificate and $425 toward their club budget for the year for winning the award.

Their project, “Fun and Games: Developing Intergenerational Connections,” served the residents of Sunridge Assisted Living in Pendleton. The students visited residents for four months, played board games, decorated Christmas cookies, and made Valentine’s Day cards with the residents.

The PHS ASTRA club was chartered 20 years ago in Pendleton by Altrusan Debbie McBee, who served as the last district governor for District 12. ASTRA students are mentored by a group of Altrusan advisors and volunteer to complete multiple service projects in the community.

PHS Astra Club

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Pendleton School District
107 NW 10th Street, Pendleton, OR 97801
Phone:  541.276.6711  Fax:  541.278.3208

The Pendleton School District assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or income as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related authorities, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any Pendleton School District sponsored program or activity.

TITLE IX COORDINATOR: Michelle Jensen, PhD Superintendent | Phone: (541) 276-6711 | Email: Michelle Jensen

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