IHS Technology Student Association’s Road to DC

    Technology Student Association (TSA) is a high school club in which students compete in different STEM events. According to technology teacher and TSA advisor Jonathan Shyne, the team did really well at the New York State Conference in Buffalo and is now getting ready for Nationals this June. This year, the national conference will take place in the Washington, DC area, hosted by the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.

    The events in TSA cover everything from solar cars to engineering to cybersecurity to computer assisted design (CAD). For most of the competitions, students have to turn in portfolios and project paperwork to show that they understand the work behind their projects.

    But, every event differs depending on the format. For example, competitions like CAD don’t require a portfolio at all. Instead, you just show up and design the parts they ask for right there on the spot. On the other hand, events like digital photography only require you to submit a portfolio ahead of time. Then, there are events like Solar Sprint and Flight for which you have to do both: hand in a separate portfolio and attend the event in person for live speed trials or launches.

    Before qualifying for Nationals, the team had to compete at States in Buffalo. To get ready, students stayed after school to work on their projects and portfolios. Antonio Cordero Navas ’29, a current TSA member, said, “We spent a lot of time in the machine shop creating parts, refining our craft, and creating products that we were proud of.” He also talked about the State Conference: “I wish I could have done better, but I am happy with the result from States.”

    Last year, the national TSA conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee, with the theme “Tune In To Technology.” About ten thousand students from all over the country went there to compete in more than seventy-seven events across middle and high school categories. The trip this year will run from June 22 to June 26, during Regents Week, and the theme this time is “Unity Through Community.” The team should be wrapping up on their portfolios and projects as well as speeches and interviews to make sure they are ready for the national conference.