Wahluke students compete at technology nationals

MATTAWA - Two Wahluke students who competed at the Technology Student Association Nationals in Texas this summer did not place, but they saw what it's all about, and they can help the rest of the Wahluke TSA prepare for next year.

The Wahluke Technology Student Association sent Meggie Arlt and Kyle Yorgesen to represent Wahluke School District at the TSA National Conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas, Texas from June 28-July 2.

They were accompanied by teachers Rachel Greshock and Myron Hamilton.

More than 6,500 TSA members attended the national conference. There were more than 60 competitions relating to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.

The two students that represented Wahluke school district were Meggie Arlt from Wahluke High and Kyle Yorgesen from the Wahluke Junior High School.

Yorgesen competed in three events, the CO2 dragster design, problem solving, and glider flight. He qualified for nationals by taking second place at the state conference in glider flight.

Arlt competed in digital photography, children's story and technical drawing. She qualified for nationals by placing third at the state conference in technical drawing.

Once they qualified for TSA nationals, Arlt and Yorgesen prepared extensively for each of their competitions.

"The competition was extremely intense, and Wahluke did not place in the top ten," Hamilton said. "But it was expressed by both Meggie and Kyle that they will be preparing for next year."

Arlt is going into 10th grade this fall, and Yorgesen will be a 9th grader. Both will be competing in TSA at the high school level next year.

"I will say that all of our students have the potential to compete at the state and national level and win," Hamilton said. "It all depends on the students if they have shot next year."