Demetri Allen, Gio Belfiore, Kayla Devosa, Thomas Foti, Jimmy Guinee, Deana Lucas, Robbie Wetzel and David Wagenblast, who are members of Howell High School’s Technology Student Association (TSA), participated in the NJ-TSA State Leadership Conference on Nov. 21 at The College of New Jersey, Ewing.
The students are advised by Sherry Roses and volunteer Jennifer Hier.
The annual fall conference gathers together chapter officers from across the state to hear guest speakers, meet fellow officers and participate in chapter team building activities and design challenges. This year, 31 New Jersey schools participated in the conference, according to a press release from the Freehold Regional High School District.
The Howell TSA chapter earned first place in creating an interactive Halloween-themed door. Prior to the conference, two chapter meetings were devoted to designing, creating and programming an Arduino controlled door (B109) with an “It” theme. First place included a $100 award, according to the press release.
First place was also awarded to the Howell TSA chapter in the Design Challenge. Based on the movie “Toy Story,” students had to create a carrier to help Buzz and Woody escape the perils of evil Sid through the use of a zip line, similar to the movie. The Howell students’ carrier went farther down the zip line than any other school’s design, according to the press release.
Two Howell seniors currently serving as NJ-TSA state officers – Meghan Moir, state historian, and Pareena Patel, sergeant-at-arms – ran their own breakout session training at the conference for their particular office. Both students have been members of TSA for seven years.
The TSA is the only student organization devoted exclusively to the needs of technology education students. Open to students who are enrolled in, or who have completed, technology education courses, TSA is comprised of more than 190,000 elementary, middle and high school students in 2,000 schools spanning 48 states, according to the press release.
