Students from Blackman High School and Central Magnet School proudly represented Rutherford County Schools at the 2025 Tennessee Technology Student Association (TSA) State Leadership Conference, which took place from April 2 to April 5 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The conference theme, "Capture Your Vision," encouraged students to showcase their skills and leadership in various fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The Technology Student Association is a national organization that empowers middle and high school students through STEM competitions, leadership opportunities, and service projects. TSA members develop essential 21st-century skills through hands-on challenges that connect academic learning to real-world applications.
The Tennessee TSA State Leadership Conference is the premier event for student members across the state, bringing together future leaders with industry professionals, postsecondary institutions, and community partners. Throughout the four-day conference, students participated in competitive events, leadership workshops, social activities, and a formal recognition ceremony. Rutherford County students achieved outstanding results at the state conference:
- CAD 3D Engineering: Yug Patel – 4th Place
- Coding: Michelle Aguilar and Benjamin Xiao – State Runner-Up
- Engineering Design: Wylene Co, Andrew Smith, and Yug Patel – State Winners
- Photographic Technology: Alex Nguyen – State Winner
- Software Development: Aditya Dwivedi and Anirudh Kodukula – State Winners
- Video Game Design: Evan Gibson and Austin Schaffrath – 3rd Place
- Photographic Technology (Regional Level): Mackenzie Jackson – Regional Winner
The mission of TSA is to promote personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in STEM fields through its various programs, including the LEAP leadership program, Junior Solar Sprint, and TEAMS engineering competitions. With over 250,000 student members across the nation, TSA inspires young leaders to "learn to lead in a technical world." For more information about TSA, please visit https://tsaweb.org.