Arapahoe technology students top at national conference

Kailyn Witonsky

(originally printed in the Jan. 7, 2010, issue of the Villager)
(story by Joshua Cole, photos courtesy of Colorado Technology Student Association)

Last summer, about 4,000 scientists converged in Denver to talk about environmental policy, breakthroughs in microbiology and efficiency and speed in creating racing boats and cars.

And, while smacking gum between their teeth, they also talked about pimples, movie explosions and the latest Jonas Brothers tour.

The scientists were middle school and high school students at the Technology Student Association (TSA) national conference and competition. Students competed in nearly 100 categories. Two Arapahoe High School students won first place in individual competition: Kailyn Witonsky was first place in “Career Comparison” and fifth in “Future Technology Teacher,” and Emily Haskins was first place in “Essays on Technology.” Witonsky is a sophomore this year and Haskins a junior.

Unlike robotics or computer clubs that stress building, creating and programming, TSAs stress community involvement and service, fund raising, research and writing. But they also have builds, competition and programming.

“It's more broad,” said David McMullen, Arapahoe High School's TSA sponsor. “Robotics club would just be a specific event. The TSA clubs have a lot more choice for their events. It's more than just computers. We use computers just as a tool. When we talk about technology, we talk about it as a tool like a hammer.”

Arapahoe was second-place for its animatronic chef. But its top place-winners were in essays and speeches. Haskins said that she's “more of a writing person” than a scientist.

“I think it just pushes you a lot to reach your potential,” Haskins said. “You have to meet all of these different requirements for the projects. I like meeting people at the conferences, and they're interesting people. It's appealing to a lot of different people because there are so many different topics. Fashion design, video, music production. It pertains to tons of different people, but it's not just building robots. It's not super-geeky, per se.”

Yet both students still said the club and learning about technology is important.

“Technology is advancing at such a speed, we as students don't need to learn content so much as the skills to find that content,” Witonsky said. “Anyone can Google certain facts, but we need to know how to utilize it. Because technology is vital, I need to stay up to date with it and use it to my advantages.”

Why would anyone voluntarily sign up and do a research project?

Competition, for one, some say. For most, though, they find something that they wouldn't have found out about in a regular science class and want to learn more.

“I really enjoy science. I know I wanted to do something in medical technology. I thought that was interesting,” Witonsky said. “I think that TSA has really made opportunities for me that I might not have taken advantage of that I wouldn't have done, like setting up an interview with a microbiolgist,” which was one of the requirements for her research.

Through the research, competition preparation and club discussions, students in the club learn what's out there in the technological and business world.

“Technology involves them in every aspect of their life,” McMullen said. “I like the hands-on and the applications that it does. It prepares them to be a little bit more well-rounded. It enables them to survive and be successful.”

Some topics that students learn include computer-aided design and drafting for architecture, video game design, and soldering on a circuit board.

Their work extends beyond the club and the classroom. Haskins was one of the main organizers for Arapahoe's Green Week in spring 2009.

Being in TSA, “it enhances my understanding of what's going on with our environment,” Haskins said. “I try to promote awareness to everyone I can.”

When students who participate in the club go to college, they're already ahead in looking for a job or understanding a career. Witonsky had a mock job interview in one competition, and she taught a classroom lesson during the other final.

“I think that science and technology, we need supplements because it's not being taught in the regular classroom,” Witonsky said. “I don't think I would be as aware of what the medical field would offer. I would be interested in it, but I don't think it would be aware of what it would entitle. I do think I would enjoy it.”

Emily Haskins

Local winners from the Technology Student Association (TSA) 2009 National Conference, in Denver
Middle school

• Newton Middle School, 7th in “Technology Transfer” (they shared this award with competition partner middle schools from Florida and Alabama).
• Euclid Middle School’s Dominic Martinez, 7th in the “Digital Photography Challenge.”
• Goddard Middle School, 4th in the “Leadership Challenge” and 5th in the “Technology Transfer Challenge” (an honor they shared with their competition partner Elizabeth Middle School).
  

High School

• Cherokee Train High School, 10th in “Radio Controlled Transportation.”
• Grandview High School’s Brenda Burns, 3rd in “CAD Engineering with Animation”.
• Arapahoe High School: Kailyn Witonsky, 1st in “Career Comparison,” 5th in “Future Technology Teacher;” Emily Haskins, 1st in “Essays on Technology;” Laine Greaves-Smith, 8th in “Technology Bowl-Written”. Teams: 2nd in “Technology Bowl,” 9th in “Debating Technological Issues,” and 9th in “Formula 1 Racing Car Technology Challenge.”
• Heritage High School, 3rd in the “Animatronics,” 5th in “Electronic Game Design,” 5th in “Electronic Research and Experimentation,” 9th in “Formula 1 Racing Car Technology Challenge,” 10th in “Technology Dare” (concerning the application and control of mechanical fluid and electrical power), and 10th in “Agriculture and Biotechnology Design.”
• Littleton High School: Micah Corah, 4th in “Transportation Modeling;” Chip Bollendonk, 5th in “Essays on Technology” and 6th in “Career Comparisons”. Teams: 6th in “Technology Problem Solving.”