Colleges, Universities Being Recruited to Host Turn-key Engineering Competition
Reston, VA (PRWEB) May 13, 2014 -- Colleges and university engineering and STEM programs looking for a unique activity to capture the interest of high caliber, motivated student prospects are now able to apply to host TEAMS on their campus. TEAMS: Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science is a theme-based competition for middle and high school students, fully managed by the Technology Student Association (TSA).
More than 60 postsecondary engineering programs are currently Collegiate Host Sites for TEAMS. There is no fee to become a TEAMS Collegiate Host. Many colleges and universities use the activity as part of an engineering or STEM program open house, or supplement the TEAMS competition by providing a campus tour, lunch, or guest speaker.
Host sites can choose a day to hold the competition between February 9 and March 21, 2015. The primary responsibility of host sites is to invite local middle and high schools to participate. Colleges and universities wishing to apply to become a 2015 host site are being recruited now.
Through multiple choice and essay questions, TEAMS provides real-world exposure to the engineering profession. The competition’s scenarios challenge participants to collaboratively address questions that bridge classroom study in science and math with real-world engineering problems. The 2014 competition focused on the theme “Engineering Tomorrow’s Cities,” based on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges. The competition is a turn-key program in that the Technology Student Association provides all competition materials, promotional literature, and manages all registration and fees.
Each year, more than 10,000 students across the country compete in TEAMS. According to Dr. Rosanne White, executive director of the Technology Student Association, these students are highly desirable college prospects. She explains, “In the past, more than 90 percent of TEAMS participants said the competition increased their knowledge of what engineers do, and 70 percent said TEAMS led them to consider an engineering major or career.”
At the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, “TEAMS has allowed us to interact with some of the best and brightest students our state has to offer. Each year the number of schools and students participating grows,” according to Amber Retke, M.Ed., director of recruitment for the College of Engineering.
TEAMS Collegiate Host Sites for 2014 included Auburn University, Stanford University, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Corporate partners for this year’s competition were CH2M HILL and Rockwell Collins. Nonprofit partners were the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA)/Engineering byDesign, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and Project Lead the Way (PLTW).
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About the Technology Student Association (TSA)
TSA is a national organization for students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Open to young people enrolled in or who have completed technology education courses, TSA’s membership includes over 200,000 middle and high school students in 2,000 schools spanning 48 states. TSA partners with universities and other organizations to promote a variety of STEM competitions and opportunities for students and teachers. TSA is supported by educators, parents, and business leaders who believe in the need for a technologically literate society. From engineers to business managers, our alumni credit TSA with a positive influence in their lives. Visit the Technology Student Association website for more information.
Terry Lowe-Edwards, TSA, Technology Student Association, http://www.tsaweb.org, +1 (703) 969-0750, [email protected]
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