| Schnider
takes first at nationals
Chris Schnider, Carson Heath and Taylor Rieman attended the 27th National TSA Conference in Chicago, June 28th –July 3, along with approximately 4500 other students nationwide and from as far away as Germany. 
Chris Schnider won 1st Place in Transportation Modeling with his model of an SUV and his portfolio. He was unable to use the car he won 2nd with at the state TSA Convention due to National TSA rules. The object was to design an SUV of his own, within certain specifications. Chris chose to use the Cadillac Escalade and the Dodge Magnum for his main design, adding his own design modifications. Once he sketched out the design, drew it up on the computer using a CAD program, he then built an example of what he had drawn. With a few modifications, he started to work on his balsa blank making his final model for the event. His scale model was longer than both SUV’s to handle the surfboards. He called it the “Surfer”. The models were judged on speed, originality, craftsmanship, design, the wind tunnel, and his portfolio. There were approximately 40 entries in the event. Carson and Taylor also had to make a new project for Nationals, unable to use their cribbage board they won first place with at State TSA. They had to design a classroom materials organizer, then package and market it. The design they chose was a 10-1/2” square box that was 5” tall. There were openings on two sides for CD’s, zip disks, a stapler, tape dispenser, pens, pencils, post its, pencil sharpener, and a place for a picture on top. The boys drew up the design using a CAD program, and imported the files into the laser software. Unfortunately for the boys, the software programs didn’t mesh, and their wasn’t an upgrade to the program. After several hours of trial and error, the boys finally got the design they needed. The organizer was cut out of Baltic birch on the laser and mounted with a lazy susan on the bottom. After pictures were taken of the project, the boys mounted the pictures and the description on the box they had selected to package their project. The boys did a very good job on their classroom materials organizer and the marketing of it. Even though they weren’t selected for the top ten finalists, I was very proud of them. There were approximately 40 entrants in the event. While in Chicago the boys took a boat tour of the architecture of the city, another tour of the city in a double deck bus, went up the Sears Tower, saw the Wrigley Field, rode on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, took a tour on the lake at night to check out the lights of Chicago, watched the fireworks at Navy Pier, and enjoyed many other sights, sounds, and restaurants of Chicago. I was very proud of the boys with their efforts and accomplishments. The experiences the boys came away with will help prepare them for other events in their lives. The boys represented our school, community and state very well. |
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