11/18/11 jgm l

HAYS, Kan. -- Technology Education Collegiate Association at Fort Hays State University won honors first-place in manufacturing at the annual Four State Regional Technology Conference in Pittsburg.

Members of the manufacturing team are: Kate Armstrong, Brookville junior, Ell-Saline High School graduate; Philip Schaeffer, Fort Collins, Colo., sophomore, Poudre High School graduate; Drew Holmes, Hanston senior, Pawnee Heights High School graduate; Trevor Clark, Hays senior, Cimarron High School graduate; Scott Smelser, McLouth senior, McLouth High School graduate; Zach Pixler, Pratt junior, Pratt High School graduate.

"Our student members are able to exchange ideas with other university students at these conferences," said Kim Stewart, associate professor of technology studies. "These trips help sell our program to prospective students."

They competed against other schools including the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wis., the University of Wyoming-Casper, the University of Arkansas, Fay, Wayne State College-Wayne, Neb., and Pittsburg State University in various events including manufacturing, problem solving, live communications and technical presentation.

TECA also won second-place honors in transportation and live communications, third-place in problem solving and teaching lessons, and fourth-place in the TECA Challenge.

This competition is a prelude to the national spring conference of the International technology and Engineering Educators Association. The national conference will be held in Long Beach, Calif., in March.

"TECA allows the Department of Technology Studies at FHSU to be recognized at the regional and national level," said Stewart. "Fort Hays State University is well known in the technology circle because of our TECA group's activities over the past several years."

Additional students who attended the conference are listed below by hometown and classification.

Atwood: Max Kisner, sophomore, Rawlins County Junior Senior High School graduate.

Ellinwood: Chantz Clawson, freshman, Ellinwood High School graduate.

Fowler: Adam Sobba, senior, Fowler High School graduate.

Garden Plain: Cody Fisher, junior, Garden Plain High School graduate, and Chris Wilson, junior, Garden Plain High School graduate.

Rush Center: Jacob Keener, sophomore, La Crosse High School graduate.

Timken: Cody Tuzicka, freshman, Otis-Bison Senior High School graduate.

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