Technology Student Association at FCHS and FCMS Recently Competed in State & National Events

The Technology Student Association at FCHS and FCMS recently competed at the State Leadership Conference in Athens, GA from March 16^th – 19^th.  Students competed in a wide range of engineering events from model airplane design, to robotics programming, to electric car races.

The high school team competed in the Electrathon car race for the first time this year.  Vanya DeCesare led the design and build of the electric car, and he was also the driver.  22 teams competed, and Vanya was a semifinalist completing 37 laps in one hour.  He is shown in his number 03 car with his pit crew L to R – Tyler Gravely, Justin Wheat, and Ben Bruce.  The race team is hoping to compete in several other events over the next few months!

• Ben Bruce competed in the Flight Endurance challenge.  He placed 12^th overall out of 44 teams, and his airplane flew for 1 minute 8 seconds.
• Alex Chastain and Hunter Alexander placed 12^th out of 38 teams in Debating Technological Issues.
• Damien Godfrey was 17^th out of 50 in Extemporaneous Speech
• Tyler Gravely was 18^th out of 44 in Technical Drafting
• Waylon Arrowood, Grant Shepherd, and Brianna Ellis all placed in the top 25 out of 150 contestants in the Technology Bowl
• For the middle school:
• Rachel Jessen, Kaiya Jones, Brayden Foster, Jordan Ensley, and Patrick Conner were in the top 10 in the Chapter Team competition
• Rachel Jessen, Patrick Conner, and Isaac Brooks were semi-finalists in the Technology Bowl competition
• Brayden Foster placed 4^th overall in the Dragster Design competition
• Chance Stacy placed 8^th overall in the Dragster Design competition
• Above features group photo:Front L to R: Ben Bruce, Hunter Alexander, Brianna Ellis, Chance Stacy, Rachel Jessen, Jordan Ensley, Kaiya Jones, Nelson Soriero, Alex ChastainMiddle L to R: Henry Leben, Patrick Conner, Isaac Brooks, Brayden Foster, Damien Godfrey, Max Mathis, Justin Wheat  Back L to R:Vanya DeCesare, Waylon Arrowood, Tyler Gravely, Joshua Oliver, Grant Shepherd, Cole Harper, and Britton Quintrell

   

  In addition the Technology Student Association at Fannin County High School recently competed in the National TSA TEAMS Engineering competition at Georgia Tech on March 11th.  A group of 16 students represented FCHS at the event.

  The event consists of three parts.  First, a multiple choice test in math, physics, chemistry, and engineering.  Second, a hands on engineering design and build project, and third, a written essay.  The test is a group effort and students compete in the 9^th/10^th grade or the 11^th/12^th grade categories.  The students turn in one answer key to the multiple choice questions, and submit 3 essays as a group.  The test is scored against everyone in the nation.  The top three teams from the State of Georgia get to compete at the national level during the summer at the National TSA Conference.

  This year, the 9^th and 10^th grade team placed first in their division!  Divisions are determined by the size of school and the type of enrollment, such as public or private.  Overall, the 9^th and 10^th grade team placed 5^th in the State out of 17 teams!

  The 11^th and 12^th grade team also placed 1^st in their division!  Overall the 11^th and 12^th grade team finished 8^th out of 18 teams!

  In the Engineering Design and Build challenge, Michael Turpin and Ramtin Doroodchi placed 2^nd overall with their mousetrap car.  Hunter Alexander and Ethan Taylor placed 1^st overall with a total distance of 266 inches traveled by their car.  There were a total of 35 teams competing in the mousetrap challenge!

  TSA gives students the opportunity to compete against other students around the state and nationally in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics challenges.  STEM careers are some of the highest paying jobs that students can pursue after high school.  I am really proud of the students that competed so well at this event!

  Hunter Alexander (L) and Ethan Taylor working on their car

  Ethan Taylor (L) and Hunter Alexander with their 1st place medals

  Ramtin Doroodchi (L) and Michael Turpin with their 2nd place medals

   

   

  Group Photo L to R (taken in front of the TECH Tower and the Atlanta Skyline.)
  Hunter Alexander, Ethan Taylor, Justin Wheat, Charitty Tuttle, Chase Culpepper, Jordan Newman, Grant Shepherd, Ramtin Doroodchi, Michael Turpin, Eli Young, Analea Cioffi, Advisor Bubba Gibbs, Uriah Giet, Carly Hellerstedt, Colton Carpenter, Bryce Aring

  Charitty Tuttle and Carly Hellerstedt will be enrolling at Georgia Tech this fall!