UA to Host Technology Leadership Conference for Students

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama will host the 34th Annual Alabama Technology Student Association State Conference involving competition for middle and high-school students Tuesday and Wednesday, March 12-13, at the Bryant Conference Center.

More than 500 students from schools throughout the state are expected to participate in more than 40 events held at the Bryant Conference Center. A sample of scheduled events includes computer-aided design, carbon-dioxide-powered dragsters, inventions and innovations, flight endurance, structural engineering and a Jeopardy-style technology bowl.

“You will see our students working with robotics, learning about aerospace technology, constructing motorized vehicles, and using sophisticated electronics during this conference,” said Ben Scheierman, TSA state director. “TSA students earn scholarships, prepare for college and high-paying careers, and assist their local communities by participating in national service projects.”

Highlights of Tuesday’s competition include: Drag Races from noon-5 p.m., Flight Challenge Build from 1-5 p.m., VEX Robotics Competition from 1-5 p.m., Structural Challenges from 2:30-5 p.m. and the Endurance Flight and Flight Challenge from 3:30-5 p.m.

Highlights of Wednesday’s events from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. include Structural Challenges Stress Testing, Tech Bowl Finals and Transportation Systems pre-race and race.

Additional competitions, career presentation and student leadership events will also be held throughout the two-day event.

Top winners in each of this year’s conference competition categories will be eligible to represent Alabama at the 2012 National TSA Conference in Orlando, Fla., June 28 to July 2.

Participating schools include: Athens High School, Baldwin County High School, Bay Minette Middle School, Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School, Columbiana Middle School, Decatur High School, Eastwood Middle School, Fairhope Middle School, Florence Middle School, Floyd Middle School, Greenville High School, Hewitt-Trussville High School, Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, Homewood Middle School, Mountain Brook Junior High School, Oxford High School, Piedmont High School, Piedmont Middle School, Pizitz Middle School, Pleasant Grove High School, Thompson Middle School, and Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle School.

UA’s College of Engineering is hosting and assisting event coordination.

TSA, a national organization founded in 1967, is devoted to preparing America’s youth for careers in technology and engineering-based occupations.This organization has more than 200,000 members throughout the United States. Alabama has approximately 2,880 members.

In 1837, The University of Alabama became one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering classes. Today, UA’s fully accredited College of Engineering has more than 3,900 students and more than 110 on faculty. In the last eight years, students in the College have been named USA Today All-USA College Academic Team members, Goldwater, Hollings, Portz, Mitchell and Truman scholars.