Congratulations Decatur High School TSA!!

On March 12-13 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, approximately 560 middle and high school students met at the Bryant Conference Center to take part in the 34th Annual Technology Student Association State Conference. The two day event featured 43 different competitive events that range from engineering design to photographic technology. The theme for the 2012-2013 conference was A Tradition of Excellence, and Decatur High School is a great living example of this. Paul Allen, DHS chapter Advisor, led his students to victory winning an award for most individual members and placing 1st overall high school. Decatur High had two students recieve the honor of being elected to State Office for the 2013-2014 school year. Austin Rodgers, former TSA State Seargent at Arms, was elected State Vice President. Jessica Cofffey was also elected State Reporter, an office formerly held by Hughston May of Decatur High. 

Below are the awards given to the talented students of the Decatur High School TSA. These students will get a chance to compete at the National TSA conference held in Orlando, Florida from June 28 to July 2, 2013.

Career Comparison

4^th Hadden Kershaw

7^th TJ Romine

Computer Aided Design 2D Architecture

3^rd Rowe Price

Computer Aided Design 3D Engineering

2^nd Jacob Farris

5^th Tyler Moore

Creed

3^rd Davis Earley

Desktop Publishing

5^th Shivam Patel

Dragster Design

1^st Davis Earley

2^nd Daniel Cater

3^rd Austin Rogers

Essays on Technology

2^nd Josh Echols

Extemporaneous Presentations

5^th Jakob Breuer

7^th TJ Romine

Flight Endurance

1^st Connor Rawlings

2^nd John David Kennedy

3^rd Mason Kennedy

Manufacturing Prototypes

1^st Bobby Doyle, Tyler Moore, Connor Rawlings

Photographic Technology

1^st Hughston May

5^th Mimi Walker

Prepared Presentation

7^th Jessica Coffey

Promotional Graphics

5^th Hughston May

6^th Austin Rodgers

Safety Illustration

1^st Austin Rodgers

2^nd Mason Kennedy

3^rd Josh Echols

State Pin Design

1^st Austin Rodgers

2^nd Ethan Paradise

3^rd Saul Becerra

State T-Shirt Design

1^st Hughston May

2^nd Mason Kennedy

3^rd Austin Rodgers

Structural Engineering

1^st Logan Batchelor & Hadden Kershaw

2^nd Bobby Doyle & Ethan Paradise

3^rd Jessica Coffey & Austin Rodgers

Technology Bowl

5^th Saul Becerra, Jessica Coffey, Peter Neil

Technology Problem Solving

5^th Bobby Doyle & Ethan Paradise

6^th Dock Hunter & David Petersen

10^th Mason Kennedy & Briley Uptain

VEX Robotics

3^rd David Petersen, Jay Hoffmann, Dustin Seal, Davis Earley

Congratulations DHS TSA! You have made us proud!

Congratulations to the Oak Park JUNA team!

Congratulations to the Oak Park JUNA team!  At the recent Junior United Nations Assembly held at Birmingham Southern College on January 31-February, 1, Oak Park students collected a lot of prestigious awards!  Madelyn Hoffman won the Erin McPherson Outstanding Leadership award.  Cayla Riehl and Madelyn Hoffman each received a trophy for Outstanding Girl Delegate (two winners from one school has never been achieved before at JUNA!), Beau Claborne and Stuart Thornton won a blue ribbon for outstanding display, Sanders White won $50.00 for a mini-grant proposal that will help a child in Ghana to have a save haven and an education. Sixth-graders Kira Williams and Raegan McNeil contributed research articles to support the team's written resolution which received an Honorable Mention Award.  Finally, Sadie Casteel did an excellent job as the team photographer!  Thanks to all the parents, teachers, and administrators who made this fabulous learning experience possible!  Great job Dr. Robin Gillespie and JUNA team.

The Doctors and Nurses of Tomorrow

Austin High School offers an excellent medical program. The program, taught by Mrs. Heather Tucker, is made up of three courses: Medical Professions 1, Medical Professions 2, and Medical Professions 3. The program gives students a solid background in medical technology, including anatomy, physical medical terms, career exploration, hands-on skills, CPR, and first aid. Third year students have the opportunity to shadow professionals in the medical field. This wonderful experience gives students actual hands-on experience, showing them the in's and out's of being a health care professional. The medical program can help save money for students who are considering a degree in the medical field by giving them the opportunity to see what the field is like before attending college. 

Last year, 100 percent of Austin graduates, who went through the program, went on to attend college to pursue a degree related to the medical field. Most of these students will eventually acquire a four year degree.  If the student decides that being a nurse or doctor does not suit them, they will have saved money that would be spent on another year of college, changing their major.

Mrs. Tucker says she enjoys teaching these classes, because she is a nurse with a love for teaching high school students. She also stated that the health care field is continuing to grow, and many career opportunities can be found in health care, making it a great path for students to consider.

Congratulations to the Decatur High winners of the Southeast Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards!

 Scholastic Gold Key                                                                                                                           

Warm by Emily Lepper   

                                                                                                                                            

Congratulations to the Decatur High winners of the Southeast Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards! Approximately 10% of submissions attain the Gold Key status and 20% attain Silver Key status. Portfolios and individual art submissions that earn Gold Keys will advance to the National level of the competition. DHS had both Gold Key and Silver Key winners. Two seniors earned Gold Key art portfolios. Jonathan Caldwell earned a Gold key Portfolio in 2D and another Gold Key portfolio in photography. Janessa Myers earned a Gold Key portfolio in 2D. These two seniors also earned Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention designations in drawing, painting, and photography. Senior Emily Lepper earned two Gold Keys for her conte' drawings. Junior Hannah Clemons earned Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions for her drawings and paintings. Sophomore Will Hall earned a Gold, Silver, and Honorable Mention in the drawing and painting categories. Collectively, DHS students earned 12 'gold key' artworks, 5 'silver key' artworks, and 6 received an honorable mention.  Congratulations students!

Scholastic Honorable Mention
Breaking Chains by Jonathan Caldwell