SW New Mexico News

The New Mexico Technology Student Association, managed through New Mexico State University’s College of Engineering, is the STEM career technical student organization for the state of New Mexico, and NMSU hosted the inaugural NM TSA state leadership conference April 12-13 in Las Cruces.

More than 200 students from middle and high school chapters across the state showcased their projects and practiced leadership through more than 55 different science, technology, engineering and mathematics competitions. Volcano Vista High School was named this year’s state champion.

Schools in attendance included Carlsbad High School, Chaparral High School, Cliff High School, Cloudcroft Middle and High School, Goddard High School, Los Lunas High School, Pecos Cyber Academy, Santa Teresa High School, School of Dreams Academy and The ASK Academy.

Clara Raley, NMSU STEM program manager and TSA state adviser, highlighted the importance of the skills developed through TSA, stating, “Twenty-first century skills, including leadership, communication and teamwork, are important for our future workforce. As a career technical student organization, TSA provides students with opportunities for career-based learning and practicing these necessary soft skills.”

Raley also emphasized the organization's commitment to meeting industry needs, saying, “NM TSA is constantly working to align industry needs of New Mexico to the programming we provide in TSA. We are quickly expanding, with over 50% growth in this year’s active membership, and much more estimated for next year.”

The Technology Student Association offers affiliated schools a variety of career-based projects for middle- and high-school students, fostering career, civic, and leadership experiences. Students engage in standards-based experiential projects to develop skills and knowledge to compete at conferences, with the opportunity to advance to the national level.

Interested schools are encouraged to affiliate with NM TSA to access this valuable program by paying national and state dues each year. More information can be found on the organization's website at https://nmtsa.com.

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CUTLINE: At the New Mexico Technology Student Association state conference held at New Mexico State University April 12-13, more than students 200 students participated. Volcano Vista High School was crowned this year’s state champion. (Courtesy photo)