CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Vol. 43, No. 33
April 21, 2009
Missouri Technology Student Association Conference Posts Record Attendance
Future engineers, scientists and technologists learn through experience
Record membership in the association of technology students pushed attendance to a new level at the Missouri Technology Student Association state conference held earlier this month. More than 200 aspiring engineers, scientists and technologists from middle schools and high schools statewide participated in the TSA Distinctions Conference held April 2-4 at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) campus in Warrensburg.
The theme of the 31st annual conference was “TSA: Shape The Future.” The three-day conference featured 64 competitions on topics ranging from architectural modeling, CAD, 3-D animation, electronic game design and technology problem solving, to parliamentary procedure.
“TSA’s philosophy is ‘learning through experience.’ So, win or lose, the students are learning through the hands-on competitions and other events,” said W. Doug Miller, state TSA advisor with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Emily Spicher, state president from Marshfield High School, led 216 delegates in the association’s official business sessions. Missouri TSA presented more than 300 awards to student members for excellence in leadership and career development, said Miller.
The student organization also recognized a number of industry representatives and educators for support and leadership, including the most outstanding recognition to Ben Yates, UCM program coordinator for Technology Education.
Attendance at this year’s conference was boosted by five new TSA high school chapters: Center High School, Kansas City; Eldon High School; Holcomb High School; and McCluer High School and McCluer South-Berkley High School, Ferguson-Florissant School District.
Missouri TSA is a student organization of nearly 4,000 members in 49 chapters statewide. Its goal is to promote technological leadership and personal growth in middle schools and high schools through participation in a variety of technology-related events.