Technology Student Association
Encyclopedia
The Technology Student Association (TSA) is an international Career and Technical Student Organization
made up of over 150,000 Middle School
and High School
Technology Education
Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards
: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students have opportunities to compete, lead and learn about these topics through leadership and competitive conferences at Regional, State, and National levels. The organization's motto is "Learning to live in a technical world."
All TSA competitions are correlated with national science, technology, engineering and mathematics standards. Expert judging by technology educators and industry representatives inspires the best from participants. Members are rewarded not only with medals or trophies, but also with memories of the camaraderie and the challenge of a TSA conference.
Sample middle school events include Agriculture and Biotechnology Issues, Career Prep, Electronic Gaming and Go Green Manufacturing. High school events include Animatronics, Computer Aided Design (CAD)and Desktop Publishing. Visit http://www.tsaweb.org/Competitions for a complete list of the TSA competitions.
. Scores are out of 100 points and based upon a nationally developed rubric. Winners are chosen based on these scores. In many events, finalists (top 10) move onto a second round of competition which usually involves an interview with the judges about the project. First, second, and third place winner are awarded a trophy at the national level.
In 1988, the AIASA changed its name to the Technology Student Association, due to the shift of Technology Education's focus from Industrial Arts to mainstream technology. The next year, the official logo was adopted, having been submitted by a chapter advisor. In 1990, the logo received a trademark from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Today, the Association has grown to include over 150,000 members. It has established an Honor Society, manages numerous competitive events and has partnerships with several organizations.
TSA's Mission Statement:
The Technology Student Association fosters personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in technology, innovation, design, and engineering. Members apply and integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts through co-curricular activities, competitive events and related programs.
State associations are led by a team of state officers, sometimes called an executive council. TSA State Advisors oversee the state delegations. State officers are usually elected by voting delegates from each state chapter.
On the national level, The TSA, In. Board of Directors leads the association. The national staff administer programs as decided by the TSA, Inc. Board of Directors and a six member national officer team supports these efforts and represents them to the membership. The national officers are elected by voting delegates from each chapter during the annual national TSA conference. The six National Offices are the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter and Sergeant-at-Arms. These offices form the basic core of most local and state teams, although others have been added in some cases.
State, national and local conferences offer members a chance to compete in various competitive events and attend leadership building events. General Sessions involving a keynote speaker, awards ceremonies, and service project activities are common.
Additionally, TSA has a service partnership with the American Cancer Society
(ACS), which are parts of their National Service Project. TSA members raise money to promote advocacy and research in the ACS, and the ACS issues Spirit of Service awards at each national conference. In the past, conferences have hosted Relay for Life events on site.
Career and Technical Student Organization
Career and Technical Student Organizations are vocational organizations primarily based in high schools and career technology centers. Often, on the state level, they are integrated into Departments of Education or incorporated as non-profit organizations. Many states define CTSOs as "integral...
made up of over 150,000 Middle School
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
Technology Education
Technology education
Technology education is a study of technology, in which students "learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology". As a study, it covers the human ability to shape and change the physical world to meet needs, by manipulating materials and tools with techniques.-External links:...
Students. TSA is the premier CTSO dedicated to STEM Standards
STEM fields
STEM fields is a US Government acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym is in use regarding access to work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields...
: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Students have opportunities to compete, lead and learn about these topics through leadership and competitive conferences at Regional, State, and National levels. The organization's motto is "Learning to live in a technical world."
Competition
Competitive events are separated into middle school and high school levels, with students competing only with their respective age group. Competitions take place at the local, state, regional and national level. A component of leadership is often entailed in events at both levels, with some events being devoted to leadership (such as the Leadership Challenge).All TSA competitions are correlated with national science, technology, engineering and mathematics standards. Expert judging by technology educators and industry representatives inspires the best from participants. Members are rewarded not only with medals or trophies, but also with memories of the camaraderie and the challenge of a TSA conference.
Sample middle school events include Agriculture and Biotechnology Issues, Career Prep, Electronic Gaming and Go Green Manufacturing. High school events include Animatronics, Computer Aided Design (CAD)and Desktop Publishing. Visit http://www.tsaweb.org/Competitions for a complete list of the TSA competitions.
. Scores are out of 100 points and based upon a nationally developed rubric. Winners are chosen based on these scores. In many events, finalists (top 10) move onto a second round of competition which usually involves an interview with the judges about the project. First, second, and third place winner are awarded a trophy at the national level.
History
TSA became an independent organization in 1978, when AIASA Inc. was formed to oversee the activities of the American Industrial Arts Student Association. Between the foundation of AIASA as an independent organization (it had formerly been a part of the American Industrial Arts Association) and 1988, the association grew and began to take shape.In 1988, the AIASA changed its name to the Technology Student Association, due to the shift of Technology Education's focus from Industrial Arts to mainstream technology. The next year, the official logo was adopted, having been submitted by a chapter advisor. In 1990, the logo received a trademark from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Today, the Association has grown to include over 150,000 members. It has established an Honor Society, manages numerous competitive events and has partnerships with several organizations.
TSA's Mission Statement:
The Technology Student Association fosters personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in technology, innovation, design, and engineering. Members apply and integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts through co-curricular activities, competitive events and related programs.
Structure
The levels of TSA are national, state, and local with a unified membership structure. Local chapters, established by advisors and students in schools with technology education programs, are led by a group of officers. Students at the local level work on projects and compete at local, state and national conferences.State associations are led by a team of state officers, sometimes called an executive council. TSA State Advisors oversee the state delegations. State officers are usually elected by voting delegates from each state chapter.
On the national level, The TSA, In. Board of Directors leads the association. The national staff administer programs as decided by the TSA, Inc. Board of Directors and a six member national officer team supports these efforts and represents them to the membership. The national officers are elected by voting delegates from each chapter during the annual national TSA conference. The six National Offices are the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter and Sergeant-at-Arms. These offices form the basic core of most local and state teams, although others have been added in some cases.
State, national and local conferences offer members a chance to compete in various competitive events and attend leadership building events. General Sessions involving a keynote speaker, awards ceremonies, and service project activities are common.
Partnerships
TSA has partnered with several other organizations and companies. TSA programs and competitions focused on STEM include: TEAMS - TSA coordinates the TEAMS (Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) program. This national annual high school competition encourages students to work collaboratively and apply their math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real everyday engineering challenges; UNITE - With funding from the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), the UNITE program is targeted toward talented high school students and helps prepare them for college through summer classes. These summer classes, held at 9 colleges and universities throughout the US, introduce students to an academic experience which closely parallels that of a first-year student in a university engineering program. Through academics, hands-on activities, and team-based learning, students explore the connections between math and science and real world applications; Engineering Alliance - Developed through a partnership between Project Lead the Way (PLTW), TSA and SkillsUSA, Engineering Alliance offers a series of classroom level competitions and leadership development activities designed specifically for PLTW-affiliated middle and high school pre-engineering instructional programs; VEX Robotics - The TSA VEX Robotics Competition provides students with a hands-on co-curricular competition for learning about science, technology, engineering and mathematics through robotics. TSA VEX Robotics tournaments are conducted in conjunction with TSA state conferences followed by a championship event at the annual national TSA conference.Additionally, TSA has a service partnership with the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
(ACS), which are parts of their National Service Project. TSA members raise money to promote advocacy and research in the ACS, and the ACS issues Spirit of Service awards at each national conference. In the past, conferences have hosted Relay for Life events on site.
Official Attire
TSA Official Attire includes a navy blue blazer with a TSA logo patch. This patch usually contains the state's name in the upper bar. Official Attire also includes an official TSA tie, a white dress shirt or blouse which will be changed by 2013-2014 to a blue dress shirt with the TSA logo on it, light grey pants or skirt, black shoes and black socks. . At the 2011 National Conference in Dallas, it was announced that a royal blue shirt embroidered with the TSA logo would replace the white shirt as required atire by 2014.Current National Officers
- President - Pratyusha Gupta, Delaware
- Vice President - Austin Vest, Georgia
- Secretary - Ashlee Shryock, Oklahoma
- Treasurer - Chip Bollendonk, Colorado
- Reporter - Marie Sabillo, Alabama
- Sergeant-at-Arms - Jason Dreyzehner, Virginia
Notable alumni
- Chad HurleyChad HurleyChad Meredith Hurley is an American co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the popular video sharing website YouTube. In June 2006, he was voted 28th on Business 2.0's "50 People Who Matter Now" list...
- Creator of YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
(Film - 1992) - Jay Parmley - Former Oklahoma Democratic PartyOklahoma Democratic PartyThe Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
Chairman and current Democratic National CommitteeDemocratic National CommitteeThe Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
Member at Large who served as Oklahoma TSA Sergeant-at-Arms, Vice President and President (Chapter Team - 1987-1989) - Carlos Felix- Restaurateur 2007-present
National Conference Locations
| Year | Host State | Location | Hotel/Conference Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 (AIASA) | Same as location | Memphis, Tennessee | unknown |
| 1980 (AIASA) | Same as location | Gatlinburg, Tennessee | unknown |
| 1981 (AIASA) | Same as location | Tulsa, Oklahoma | unknown |
| 1982 (AIASA) | Same as location | Norfolk, Virginia | unknown |
| 1983 (AIASA) | Same as location | Houston, Texas | unknown |
| 1984 (AIASA) | Same as location | Knoxville, Tennessee | unknown |
| 1985 (AIASA) | Same as location | Orlando, Florida | unknown |
| 1986 (AIASA) | Same as location | Wichita, Kansas | unknown |
| 1987 (AIASA) | Same as location | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | unknown |
| 1988 (Name becomes TSA) | Same as location | Dowingtown, Pennsylvania | unknown |
| 1989 (TSA) | Same as location | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | unknown |
| 1990 (TSA) | Same as location | Corpus Christi, Texas | unknown |
| 1991 (TSA) | Same as location | Tulsa, Oklahoma | unknown |
| 1992 (TSA) | Same as location | Richmond, Virginia | unknown |
| 1993 (TSA) | Same as location | Nashville, Tennessee | unknown |
| 1994 (TSA) | Same as location | Orlando, Florida | unknown |
| 1995 (TSA) | Same as location | Chicago, Illinois | Hyatt-O'Hare Regency |
| 1996 (TSA) | Same as location | Louisville, Kentucky | Galt House Hotel |
| 1997 (TSA) | Same as location | Washington, D.C. | Hilton Towers |
| 1998 (TSA) | Same as location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | unknown |
| 1999 (TSA) | Same as location | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Tulsa Convention Center |
| 2000 (TSA) | Same as location | Atlanta, Georgia | Hyatt Regency Atlanta |
| 2001 (TSA) | Same as location | Richmond, Virginia | Greater Richmond Convention Center |
| 2002 (TSA) | Same as location | Denver, Colorado | Adams Mark Denver |
| 2003 (TSA) | Same as location | Orlando, Florida | Rosen Centre Hotel |
| 2004 (TSA) | Same as location | Nashville, Tennessee | Gaylord Opryland |
| 2005 (TSA) | Same as location | Chicago, Illinois | Sheraton Chicago |
| 2006 (TSA) | Same as location | Dallas, Texas | Adams Mark Dallas Sheraton Dallas Hotel The Sheraton Dallas Hotel, formerly the Adam's Mark Hotel and originally the Southland Center, is a complex of international style skyscrapers located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas. The hotel is the tallest and largest hotel in Dallas and Texas with 1,840 guest rooms and ... |
| 2007 (TSA) | Same as location | Nashville, Tennessee | Gaylord Opryland Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, formerly known as Opryland Hotel, is a large hotel and convention center located in Nashville, Tennessee and owned by Gaylord Hotels, a division of Gaylord Entertainment Company... |
| 2008 (TSA) | Same as location | Orlando, Florida | Rosen Shingle Creek |
| 2009 (TSA) | Same as location | Denver, Colorado | Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel |
| 2010 (TSA) | Delaware | Baltimore, Maryland | Baltimore Convention Center / Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor / Hilton Baltimore Hotel |
| 2011 (TSA) | Same as location | Dallas, Texas | Gaylord Texan Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel & Convention Center Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center is a hotel and convention center, opened in Grapevine, Texas minutes from Dallas - Fort Worth, in March, 2004... |
| 2012 (TSA) | Same as location | Nashville, Tennessee | Gaylord Opryland Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, formerly known as Opryland Hotel, is a large hotel and convention center located in Nashville, Tennessee and owned by Gaylord Hotels, a division of Gaylord Entertainment Company... |
| 2013 (TSA) | Same as location | Orlando, Florida | Rosen Shingle Creek |
State Delegations
- Alabama TSA
- Alaska TSA
- Arizona TSA
- Arkansas TSA
- Colorado TSA
- Connecticut TSA
- Delaware TSA
- Florida TSA
- Georgia TSA
- Germany TSA
- Idaho TSA
- Illinois TSA
- Indiana TSA
- Iowa TSA
- Kansas TSA
- Kentucky TSA
- Louisiana TSA
- Maine TSA
- Maryland TSA
- Massachusetts TSA
- Michigan TSA
- Minnesota TSA
- Mississippi TSA
- Missouri TSA
- Montana TSA
- Nebraska TSA
- Nevada TSA
- New Hampshire TSA
- New Jersey TSA
- New Mexico TSA
- New York TSA
- North Carolina TSA
- North Dakota TSA
- Ohio TSA
- Oklahoma TSA
- Oregon TSA
- Pennsylvania TSA
- Peru TSA
- Rhode Island TSA
- South Carolina TSA
- South Dakota TSA
- Tennessee TSA
- Texas TSA
- Utah TSA
- Virginia TSA
- Washington TSA
- West Virginia TSA
- Wisconsin TSA
- Wyoming TSA