Photo courtesy of Braden River High

 The 42nd Annual Technology Student Association (TSA) State Conference held this weekend in Orlando welcomed more than 2,000 middle and high school students, advisors, chaperones and guests from across Florida. The School District of Manatee County sent more than 400 students from 16 Manatee County schools. The schools that competed include: Bayshore High, Braden River High, Lakewood Ranch High, Manatee High, Palmetto High, Parrish Community High, Southeast High, Braden River Middle, Buffalo Creek Middle, Dr. Mona Jain Middle, Haile Middle, Johnson Middle, Lee Middle, Nolan Middle, Rowlett Middle Academy and Sugg Middle. There were 222 trophies available (first, second, and third-place) for a total of 74 competitive events. Upholding a long-standing reputation, this was the 15th straight year Manatee students captured more trophies and earned more Top Ten finishes than any other school district in Florida. Manatee County students brought home 98 event trophies (39 first-place event trophies, 31 second-place trophies, and 28 third-place trophies). Even more impressive, our students brought home 242 Top Ten student event finalist pins. These finalist pins are for all students who placed in the Top 10 in a competitive event.

This year’s Florida TSA Conference consisted of competitive events representing a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills from animatronics, and biotechnology to video game design, and webmaster. The Outstanding School Award is given to the schools in the Top Ten, based on a calculation of all event placements for the entire conference for all student competitors with a first-place win equating 10 points and a 10th place finish equating 1 point. Braden River High earned first-place for high schools and Buffalo Creek Middle earned third-place overall at the middle school level. No other school district in the state has had more schools receive the Outstanding School Awards than Manatee County. No other school district in the state had more schools receive Top 10 finalist pins than Manatee County. No other school district in the state had more schools receive event trophies than Manatee County. Students will be heading to the National Conference that will take place June 27-July 1 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville.

Photo courtesy of Braden River High

For a complete list of event results or for more information on TSA