- Mount Nittany Elementary
- Mount Nittany Elementary School
Technology Student Association (TSA) Awards
Park Forest Middle School’s Technology Student Association chapter turned in a high-powered performance at the 43rd Annual Pennsylvania Technology Student Association Competition.
PFMS claimed nine state champions, four runner-ups, two third-place finishers and 10 additional Top 10 finalists. The team won firsts in the Career Prep, Children’s Stories, Community Service Video, Essays on Technology, Inventions and Innovations, Leadership Strategies, Mass Production, Medical Technology and Video Game Design categories.
“This virtual TSA states competition scenario was new for all, but provided some normalcy for these students while working through this COVID-19 pandemic,” said technology education/STEM teacher Tim Dzurko, the chapter’s advisor. “The opportunities afforded to these individuals were second to none. The dedication, motivation, persistence and flexibility demonstrated by these students has been remarkable.”
As a result of their success at the state competition, eight of the 15 competing students qualified for the National TSA Virtual Conference, June 1-June 25. Helping to represent Pennsylvania will be Wyatt Angeli, Natalie Branstetter, Harper House, Isabelle McSweeney, Manahil Sabeeh, Sienna Sullivan, Leo Wang and Margo Wyckoff.
The State High TSA Chapter also sent members to the state competition, taking second in the Chapter Team category and third place in the Geospatial Technology, Software Development and Video Game Design categories; and seven additional Top 10 finishes. State High will have students competing at the national conference in the Coding, IT Fundamentals, On Demand Video, Scientific Visualization and Video Game Design categories.
“I am beyond proud of them for sticking with it through this difficult year, and for rising above the adversity of having to be hybrid or fully-remote while working on their projects and while competing remotely,” said technology and engineering education teacher Chris Avvampato, the chapter advisor. “Our high school officers deserve a lot of credit for making this year a success as well, namely our Vice President Suraj Kumar and President Aaron Tsai.
Mount Nittany Middle School did not have a TSA chapter this year.