Students and advisors from across the State of Delaware joined more than 8,000 national members at the 45^th Annual Technology Student Association (TSA) conference that was hosted in Louisville, Kentucky last week. The First State delegation represented 130 of Delaware’s finest student leaders from Caesar Rodney High School, Cab Calloway School of The Arts, Fred Fifer Middle School, H.B. duPont Middle School, Indian River High School, Magnolia Middle School, MOT Charter High School, Newark Charter School, Newark High School, Odyssey Charter School Postlethwait Middle School and Sussex Central High School.

Students competed in individual and team events such as: Architecture; Podcasting; Biotechnology; Board Game Design; Career Prep; Coding; Cybersecurity; Data Science and Analytics; Video Production; Dragster Design; Extemporaneous Speech; Fashion Design and Technology; Flight Endurance; Foundations of Information Technology; Future Teacher; Manufacturing Prototype; Microcontroller Design; Photographic Technology; Solar Sprint; Software Development; STEM Animation; Structural Engineering; System Control Technology; Technology Problem Solving; VEX Robotics; Video Game Design; Virtual Reality Visualization (VR); and Website Design and more.  Honors for the Delaware delegation include:

Achievement Awards

• Samhitha Vallury of MOT Charter School recognized for service as secretary of Technology Student Association inc.
• Samra Iqbal of Caesar Rodney High School recognized for service as reporter of Technology Student Association inc.
• Roger Seedorf of MOT Charter School recognized as High School Teacher of the Year
• Laura Barnas of Postlethwait Middle recognized as Middle School Teacher of the Year
• Mike Fitzgerald from the Delaware Department of Education recognized as the National State Advisor of the Year

National Top 10 Finalists

• Desen Basara of Caesar Rodney High School earned 1^st place in Essays on Technology
• Shiven Reddy and Youg Patel of Newark Charter High School earned 3^rd place in Technology Problem Solving
• Nathan Hryniewicz of Newark Charter High School earned 5^th place in CAD Engineering
• Arnav Angra of H.B. duPont Middle School earned 7^th place in Foundations of Information Technology
• John Barnas, Zachary Barnas, and Mason Lenoir of Postlethwait Middle School earned 7^th place in Video Game Design
• James Carroll and Audrey Houghton of Newark Charter High School earned 10^th place in Forensic Science
• Ethan Ho, Chase Polk and Noah Veron of Newark Charter High School earned 10^th place in System Control Technology

The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) dedicated to students interested in advancing the future of technology, invention, innovation, design, and engineering. Through TSA, members gain the opportunity to participate in STEM focused competitive events, take part in community service work, and become leaders for the organization at the school, state, and national level. TSA incorporates co-curricular experiences to emphasize the importance of knowledge, leadership, skill development, and teamwork. To learn more about the Delaware Technology Student Association visit: www.detsa.org or contact Mike Fitzgerald by phone at (302) 735-4015 or via email at mike.fitzgerald@doe.k12.de.us. A list of all international finalists can be found online at TSA Competitive Event Finalists.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

Delaware students recently brought home awards from a national SkillsUSA leadership conference.

Forty-one Delaware SkillsUSA high school students joined more than 16,000 participants in the 2023 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta. Students participated in events involving construction trades, video broadcasting, graphic arts, automotive trades, and leadership skills. Four students placed in the top 10, and 11 students received Skill Point awards, which represent the pinnacle of achievement in demonstrating proficiency and workplace readiness in a student’s occupational specialty. In addition, Delaware was recognized by the National SkillsUSA office for having the largest high school membership percentage increase and the largest overall membership percentage increase for the 2022-2023 school year.

The advisers and students, who were for the majority rising juniors, returned energized from Atlanta. They are ready to engage and help grow SkillsUSA in Delaware and allow our students the opportunity to participate in the best job interview in the world.

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization that empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. Its vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.

The SkillsUSA National Championships are career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Through an investment from business and industry partners of about $36 million, the event occupies a space equivalent to 31 football fields or 41 acres.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

More than 500 Delaware FFA members from 36 schools convened at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in March to attend the 93^rd Delaware FFA State Convention, sponsored by Mountaire. During the convention, both high school and middle school members competed in career and leadership development events, participated in two Day of Service activities, attended leadership workshops and a career fair, and were recognized for their efforts throughout the past year. High school members competed in 12 events and middle school members competed in seven events.  See the top 10 individual results and top five team results.

Members also were recognized for earning American and State FFA degrees, which are a culmination of the efforts in their Supervised Agricultural Experience programs.  See a complete list of the American and State degree recipients.

During the first general session at convention 84 Delaware FFA members received their very own blue jacket (FFA Jacket) from the Delaware Farm Bureau as part of their Blue Jacket Bonanza program. After session more than 100 members participated in two Day of Service activities. At the Day of Service, FFA members assembled 1,000 blessing bags for Delaware veterans. These blessing bags were done in partnership with the VFWs in Delaware. Additionally, members constructed cat and dog toys that were distributed to Delaware SPCA locations.

Members also had the opportunity to participate in the Ag-stravaganza. This event was a career fair that allowed members to learn about and explore new career options for their future. Thank you to the following Ag-stravaganza participants: Artesian Water, Bayer Crop Science, Brittingham Lavender, Carpenters Union, Coastal Equine & Livestock Supply, Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) – Forest Services, Delaware Farm Bureau, Delaware State Grange, DHSS – Office of Drinking Water, Delaware National Guard, Delaware Technical Community College Ag/Hort, Delaware Sea Grant, Delaware State University – MANNRS, Delaware DNREC Division of Water Shed Stewardship, Delaware DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, Food Bank of Delaware, Frozen Farmer, GROWMARK FS, LLC, Harvest Ridge Winery, Horizon Farm Credit, Kent Conservation District, Kent Nutrition Group, Merck, NR Hudson Consulting, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Pioneer/Trap Woods Consulting, Polytech Adult Education, Sussex Conservation District, University of Delaware, and Universal Technical Institute.

The following members were elected to serve as the 2023-2024 Delaware FFA State Officer Team to lead the Delaware FFA Association in the upcoming year:

Sentinel, Joey Nowotny – Laurel

Reporter, Keeley McCormick – Appoquinimink

Treasurer, Kyle Gares – Appoquinimink

Secretary, Anya Phillips – Milford

Vice President, Hannah Haigh – Milford

President, Noah Dixon – Lake Forest

Delaware FFA is a leading Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students pursuing careers in agriculture, food, natural resources, and other related career fields. For more information, please visit the FFA Web site at www.ffa.org or contact Dr. Bart Gill, Delaware FFA state advisor, at bart.gill@doe.k12.de.us.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

More than 700 middle and high school students participated last week in the 12^th annual HOSA State Leadership Conference. HOSA members earning a medallion qualify for the International Leadership Conference, which will be held June 21-24, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.

Delaware HOSA is a career and technical student organization dedicated to students who are interested in pursuing their future in a career in healthcare. Through HOSA-Future Health Professionals, more than 1,300 Delaware members have the opportunity to participate in career focused competitive events, take part in community service, and become leaders for the organization in their school, state, and at the international level.  HOSA-Future Health Professionals incorporates curricular and co-curricular experiences to emphasize the importance of knowledge, leadership, skill development, and teamwork.

A list of all state award winners and events and the video of the virtual awards ceremony is located at delawarehosa.org. To learn more about Delaware HOSA, please contact Peg Enslen by email at peggy.enslen@doe.k12.de.us.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

Business students from across Delaware won state awards at last month’s Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference.

About 360 high school business students from 20 high schools in the state participated in the conference at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, competing in 52 events in the categories of management; marketing and communications; digital communications and design; management information systems; business administration; and finance. Students also campaigned for the state officer leadership team.

About 260 business students from 20 middle schools statewide also participated. The middle level students competed in 15 events.

Find a list of state qualifiers here and here.

Students were recognized Friday at the 2023 Business Professionals of America, Delaware Association Awards Ceremony. The ceremony culminated with the celebration of leadership, recognition of community services, and the presentation of the 2023– 2024 State Officer Leadership Team with school representatives and families in attendance.

The following student members were elected to serve on the State Officer Leadership Team for 2023 – 2024:

• President – Jennae Overton from Middletown High School (Appoquinimink School District)
• Vice President – Kinga Gul from Newark Charter High School (charter)
• Secretary – Manushri Gupta from MOT Charter High School (charter)
• Middle Level Representative – Anusha Sarwadi from Alfred G. Waters Middle School (Appoquinimink School District)

The Secondary Advisor of the Year was Jeffrey Bunting of Indian River High School in the Indian River School District. Jennifer Rhudd, formerly of Kirk Middle School, received the Honorary Life Award. The State Professional Cup is awarded to the chapter from each division most actively involved in Special Recognition and Torch Awards. This year’s recipient of the Middle Level Professional Cup is Mariner Middle School in Cape Henlopen School District and the Secondary Level Professional Cup is Cape Henlopen High School.

State Auditor Lydia York and state Rep. Michael Smith served as judges.

Gold sponsor JP Morgan Chase is represented on the Board of Directors and contributed about 35 judge volunteers including Managing Directors Glen McFarlane and Jamal Brown as well as a $1,500 award to the 1st place Website Design Team from Newark Charter High School (Kinga Gul, Alanna Denault, Natalie Keach and Srujan Yamali).

In addition, about 40 BPA members submitted more than 70 logo designs for the JPMC Design Challenge. Four winners were selected: Srinidhi Kotteswaran, Daniel La Rose, Rajat Bhaskaran, and Leo Yan. Each student received a $75 Amazon gift card, certificate, and an opportunity to meet a User Experience designer at JPMC to get a closer look at building a brand from scratch.

BPA is a leading Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. For more information, please visit the BPA Web site at www.bpa.org or contact Lisa Wilson, Delaware BPA State Advisor at lisa.wilson@doe.k12.de.us.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006