At Highlands, the Technology Student Association (TSA) is a very beloved club, with Engineering teacher Ronald Rosel as head coach. TSA is a national organization of students who are engaged in STEM, which is science, technology, engineering, and mathematics who are heading to Orlando in June.
TSA chapters take the study of STEM further than just the normal school classroom and give the students a chance to pursue academic challenges among friends and peers from other parts of the country. Not only will it enhance your academic abilities, but it will also help you make new connections and friendships along the way.
Freshman Eliana Niese who will be going to Orlando said: “I feel as if I have accomplished a lot during my TSA experience due to the support of my peers. There’s a lot of competition because some of the schools we face are actual STEM schools. I strive to be a leader for women pursuing STEM and/or TSA. In the past year, the amount of women in TSA has doubled which will increase more in the upcoming years.”
TSA members have the opportunity to compete in Regional, State, and National competitions throughout the year. Professional judges in the technology and engineering fields fairly select the best participants during competitions.
Senior Jack Wilson said: “Not only did TSA help me enhance my intelligence, it also let me be dispersed into the world of engineering and technology which is a field that will help anybody in the long run, no matter what career path said person goes down.”
Though the students do hard work, it wouldn’t be possible without their instructor Rosel. Rosel said: “My students are a big pride of mine, and TSA just proves that if you put your best effort forward, you can achieve great things”
TSA high school competitions are categorized by careers in Architecture and Construction Technology, Communications Technology, Computer Science and Information Technology, Leadership, Manufacturing and Transportation Technology, STEM, and Technology and Research.
All TSA activities and challenges are correlated to the STEL (Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy). Teachers can use TSA activities during the school day due to its academic-like learning style.