Wahluke Junior High students shine at Technology State Conference

MATTAWA - Wahluke Junior High School students took home four individual honors and one chapter award from the Technology Student Association State Conference in Bellevue on March 26-28.

Sixteen students and two advisors from WJH prepared over the last month for the competition. It included: Engineering Problem Solving, Engineering Structure Design, Technology Essay Writing, Vex Robotics, Technical Design, Tech Bowl, Woodworking and middle school flight competitions.

There were more than 800 students from across the state in attendance. They prepared notebooks and engineering journals as part of the competitions.

Wahluke students swept the top three awards in middle school woodworking. Kyle Yorgesen placed first, Brayan Santiago took second and Kevin Gomez finished third.

Advisor Myron Hamilton was "very proud" of his students' efforts and looks forward to preparing them for the 34th state conference in 2016.

In the MS Flight Competition, Kyle Yorgesen finished second in a tough field of competitors.

"Kyle has grown not only in his technological knowledge but has become a student leader over the last two years as a member of TSA," Morken said. "We are proud of all of our Wahluke students that took part in the competition and worked hard not only to attend but took time during spring break to focus on academic and workplace skills for their future."

Community and industry groups that would like to learn more about what the students of the Wahluke Junior High TSA are up to, they encourage you to follow on Twitter @wahlukestem or http://twitter.com/wahlukestem in addition to calling Wahluke Junior High.

According to Morken, TSA is one of the premier student leadership organizations in the United States. It is recognized by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as a Career and Technical Education Student Organization (CTSO).

CTE programs from all parts of Washington State took part in the competitions in Bellevue. They have outgrown the conference space at the Bellevue Hilton and will compete at the Doubletree at SeaTac Airport next year.

WJH was recognized for its growth as the largest student chapter in one of three subcategories referred to as Whitecap. TSA is one of five active CTSO chapters in the Wahluke School District.

"These programs provide students with the essential workplace skills they will need to find success in the ever-increasing technological world they live in," Morken said.

All CTE programs have various CTSOs, and Wahluke has done a commendable job of making sure all students have access to these leadership opportunities.