Delaware’s Technology Student Association (TSA) delegation proudly represented the First State at the 2025 National TSA Conference last week in Nashville, Tennessee. This year, 160 students from 17 Delaware schools competed alongside nearly 10,000 students from the U.S. and abroad in more than 65 events spanning biotechnology, cybersecurity, engineering, and emerging technologies. Through TSA, students apply classroom learning to real-world challenges, developing skills that prepare them for college and in-demand careers. Their achievements reflect the Delaware Department of Education’s support of hands-on learning, industry-recognized credentials, and early postsecondary opportunities.

National TSA honored several Delaware advisors:

• Laura Barnas, Postlethwait Middle School (Caesar Rodney School District) — National Middle School Chapter Advisor of Excellence
• Gerald Sheridan, Indian River High School (Indian River School District) — National High School Chapter Advisor of Excellence
• Mike Fitzgerald, Delaware Department of Education — National TSA State Advisor of the Year (2024), recognized for 15 years as State Advisor and five years as a TSA corporate member.

The delegation was led by the 2024–2025 Delaware TSA State Officer Leadership Team: James Carroll (president), Shreyas Chittimalla (vice president), Laksh Patel (secretary), and Nathan Hryniewicz (treasurer) — all from Newark Charter Senior High School — along with Elisha Liu (reporter, Appoquinimink High School) and Zach Barnas (sergeant-at-arms, Caesar Rodney High School). The officers organized nightly meetings and leadership sessions to help delegates succeed and make the most of the national experience.

Delaware students earned several Top Ten national finishes:

• System Control Technology (MS) — Noah Bauer, Luke Antonioli, Ian Walker, Selbyville Middle School (Indian River School District): 4th Place
• Tech Bowl (MS) — Kedar Lakshmanan, Christian Pena-Garcia, Evan Xie, H.B. DuPont Middle School (Red Clay Consolidated School District: 7th Place
• Children’s Stories (MS) — Eric Gong, Dylan Guo, Jai Modi, Tab Wang, Evan Xie, Sophia Xu, H.B. DuPont Middle School (Red Clay Consolidated School District): 8th Place
• Video Game Design (MS) — Dakota Auer, Zachary Barnas, McKenzie Davis, Nathan Ridgely, Postlethwait Middle School (Caesar Rodney School District): 8th Place
• Cybersecurity (MS) — Jessica Rayban, Cab Calloway School of the Arts (Red Clay Consolidated School District): 10th Place

Competitions Delaware Students Participated in Included:

Architectural Design, Biotechnology Design, Board Game Design, CAD Architecture, CAD Engineering, Career Prep, Chapter Team, Coding, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Analytics, Debating Technological Issues, Digital Photography, Dragster Design, Engineering Design, Essays on Technology, Extemporaneous Speech, Fashion Design, Flight Endurance, Forensic Science, Geospatial Technology, Inventions & Innovations, Junior Solar Sprint, Leadership Strategies, Manufacturing Prototype, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Technology, Music Production, On Demand Video, Problem Solving, Robotics, Software Development, STEM Animation, Structural Design and Engineering, System Control Technology, Tech Bowl, Technology Problem Solving, Transportation Modeling, Video Game Design, Virtual Reality Simulation, Webmaster, Website Design, and more.

About Delaware TSA
Delaware TSA is a Career & Technical Student Organization (CTSO) supported by the Delaware Department of Education. It provides students with opportunities to develop leadership, STEM, and workforce skills through co-curricular activities, competitive events, and community service. Delaware TSA chapters operate in middle and high schools statewide and are open to all students in approved CTE pathways.

About National TSA
The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national nonprofit organization of middle and high school students engaged in STEM and leadership. With more than 300,000 members across the U.S. and internationally, TSA empowers students to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges, helping build the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technology leaders.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

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