Polk County Public Schools
Students from eleven Polk schools won awards in competitive events at the 2009 Technology Student Association (TSA) state conference held in Orlando. The Technology Student Association offers students opportunities to learn about technology, innovation, design and engineering. Students apply and integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts through academic activities, competitive events and related programs. Competitive events at the state conference included computer programming, agriculture and biotechnology, imaging technology and manufacturing prototype.
Two students from Lakeland’s Lawton Chiles Middle won awards in three separate events. Lane Carter won in the multimedia, inventions and innovations and technology transfer events. Phoebe Ferguson won in the communications challenge, multimedia and technology transfer events.
Ricardo Maldonado of Eagle Lake’s Lake Region High won two first place awards in the film and on-demand video categories.
Other students winning at least two awards were John Erwin (Bartow International Baccalaureate), Matt Frier (Davenport School of the Arts), Rachel Hendricks (Frostproof Senior), Brenna Pelland (Lakeland’s Blake Academy), Cody Ramsey (Davenport School of the Arts), Benjamin Shaia (Bartow International Baccalaureate), Donavin Willis (Davenport School of the Arts) and Anna Whitman (Davenport School of the Arts).
Also announced at the state conference was the appointment of two Polk students to leadership positions with the state TSA organization. Shivi Kumar, currently a senior at Lake Region High, was named 2009-2010 TSA State President and Alessandra Miranda, currently a senior at Bartow International Baccalaureate, was named 2009-2010 TSA State Reporter.
Students winning state TSA awards are listed by school they represented at the 2009 event.
Bartow International Baccalaureate: Daniel Buey, John Erwin, Mauricio Miranda, Josh Newell, Benjamin Shaia, Caitlyn Soriano, Samuel White, Rebekah Wise, William Wysong.
Blake Academy (Lakeland): Jordan Eggert, Jimmy Grant, Chris Hodge, Nicklas McCaslin, Brenna Pelland, Rowan Reppeto, Dana Scofield, Sayge Woodham.
Boone Middle (Haines City): Shawn Klein, Chris Stone.
Crystal Lake Middle (Lakeland): Samuel Van Duyn.
Davenport School of the Arts: Hannah Carter, Robyn Cotney, Tanya Dudney, Matt Frier, Brandi Munroe, Cody Ramsey, Jacob Selig, Donavin Willis, Luke Wilmoth, Anna Whitman.
Frostproof Senior: Rachel Hendricks, Robby Hendricks, Nickie Potts.
Lake Gibson High (Lakeland): Alejandro Amezquita, Johnny DiCristo, Kayleigh Mitchell, Mica Rodgers, Kris-Lloyd Tapper.
Lake Region High (Eagle Lake): Ricardo Maldonado, Ryan Torres, Janet Tucker, Davidge Turley, Sebastian Turley.
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy (Lakeland): Lane Carter, Sarah Cook, Phoebe Ferguson, Brandon McFarlane, Harrison Pincket, Dalton Yelvington, Miriam Woodard, Tom Zhang.
Sleepy Hill Middle (Lakeland): Amanda Chanthalangsy, Hayley Dirck, Kaleigh Dirck
Winter Haven High: Chuong Nguyen.
