North Carolina Technology Student Association (NC TSA), the state chapter of Technology Student Association (TSA), held their Western Region Conference at Appalachian State University on Friday, February 23, 2018.
NC TSA chapters from middle and high schools in the southwestern, western, and northwestern regions were invited to attend.
750+ students and advisors from 30 schools as well as 100 Appalachian faculty, staff and student volunteers participated in this one-day event focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competitions.
Students test the endurance of their solar vehicles in the Junior Solar Sprint competition. Photo by Laura Warren, TSA Alumna, Appalachian Commercial Photography major.
Participating Schools
30 regional middle and high schools attended the conference. Participating schools were:
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Students get ready to demonstrate their catapult designs. Photo by Laura Warren.
Teams or individuals competed in 50 STEM-related competitions, such as:
- Architectural Design
- Catapult Design
- Coding
- Children's Stories
- Dragster Design
- Robotics
- and more!
Judges selected first, second and third place winners for each. Local winners included:
| Category | Place | Team/Individual/School |
| High School Engineering Design | First | Watauga High School |
| High School Video Game Design | Second | Watauga High School |
| High School Computer Aided Design 2D, Architecture | Third | Watauga High School |
| Middle School Inventions and Innovations | Second | Team 1/West Wilkes Middle School |
| Middle School Off the Grid | Second | 1052-1/West Wilkes Middle School |
| Middle School Structural Engineering | Third | Team 3/Wilkes Middle School |
Students demonstrate their skills as they compete in the TSA/VEX VRC "In the Zone" event. Photo by Laura Warren.
About the Conference
Since 2000, this annual event has been hosted by the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian's Reich College of Education along with student club, Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association (ASU TEECA).
Dr. Jerianne Taylor, professor of curriculum and instruction, serves as the Executive Director and State Advisor for NC TSA. She said, "The Western Region NCTSA Conference is the perfect example of how the university supports the future endeavors of its students by fostering leadership, giving back to our region through active participation and promoting future careers related to STEM education."
The Western Region NCTSA Conference is the perfect example of how the university supports the future endeavors of its students by fostering leadership, giving back to our region through active participation and promoting future careers related to STEM education.
Walkertown Middle School TSA and advisor, Charlotte Waddell, pose with Appalachian mascot, Yosef. Photo by Laura Warren.
The event engages students from around the region in STEM learning, something that will hopefully lead them to future careers in technology, engineering, and design. Furthermore, the Western Region Conference prepares students for the NC TSA State Conference. This year's conference will be held April 22-24, 2018 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Want to see more? View pictures from the conference.
NC TSA competitors “Just Reach a Little Higher”
