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HCHS TSA students compete at Murray State Engineering Day
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By Jennifer Wimmer
Hancock County High School Technology Student Association members attended the 2026 TSA Regional Conference at Murray State University Feb. 26 during the university’s annual Engineering Day. Students took part in STEAM-centered challenges with regional high schools under the guidance of Murray State faculty and staff.
Led by HCHS engineering teacher Lisa Banta, students competed in the following events: CO2 dragster additive, CO2 wooden, computer-aided drafting, engineering design, PVC kayak, physics challenge, STEM guitar, robotics challenge, structural design I and II, and survival shelter.
The theme for this year’s regional competition was “Engineering the Past,” which asked students to look at how engineers preserve, restore and update historic structures and materials. Under that theme, participants explored ideas from structural and civil engineering to architectural and materials engineering, as well as geotechnical, environmental and electrical engineering.
The experience tied modern problem-solving to real-world historical challenges, and students were also able to gain valuable feedback from industry professionals on how to improve projects.
Engineering Day brings high school students to Murray State’s campus to work in engineering labs, meet faculty and hear from current students about studying in the School of Engineering.
“The kids worked hard on all of their projects, but unfortunately did not place this year,” Banta said. “We have not received all of the rubrics from our events, but we feel like the quality of our students and their projects made them very competitive in all events. The regional and state competitions provide students with hands-on technical experiences, fostering skills in design, prototyping and testing, while improving their ability to work together in a team environment. Our HCHS students dedicated many hours during the school day, after school and on Saturday in order to complete their projects, and they are currently working to modify and improve their designs for state.”
The Kentucky TSA state conference in Louisville is next for HCHS TSA students later this month.
Posted in Local News 2