As Legend’s TSA (Technology Student Association) set off to the Colorado State Conference, it seemed as though fate was against them. Shortly after their arrival, several Legend competitors and numerous students from other schools became infected with the norovirus.
Highly contagious and sometimes fatal, the norovirus leads to inflammation of the stomach, intestines, or both. The disease spreads rampant by means of infected persons, contaminated food, and/or tainted surfaces.
According to senior Karlie DeBerard, such an illness has never progressed “to such an extent in TSA history. An advisor, four state officers and multiple other contestants were contaminated. The hotel staff was interviewed, and one Legend student even had to go to the hospital,” DeBerard said.
Despite harsh beginnings, the TSA Titans had an overall successful conference. The key to this success was “working really hard as an individual but even harder as an overall team,” DeBerard said.
Even with hours of preparation and hard work, DeBerard believes “ultimately [success] all comes down to luck and judging. This makes winning great because of all the work behind it, but this same work ethic makes losing even more devastating,” DeBerard said.
Among the highlights of the day were “a number of national qualifiers. TSA students are in general pretty smart and everyone was very well prepared for this conference,” DeBerard said.
Focusing on the future, TSA hopes to continue its focus on “bringing its program even further. Conferences allow competitors to build skills involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These abilities are important to the future,” DeBerard said.
Legend TSA State Conference Medal Earners:
1st Place – SCIVIS – the team of Nathan Erickson and Mike Andrews
2nd Place – Music Production – the team of Roni Lubofsky and Arlin Tawzer
2nd Place – Underwater ROV – the team of Steven Ripple, Mark Reifsteck, Logan Bassett, and Alex Barnes
2nd Place – Photo Tech – Kylie Bernard
2nd Place – Castle Ballistics – the team of Mark Reifsteck, Steven Ripple, and Logan Bassett
2nd Place – Animatronics – the team of Brian Rawlings, Matt Wermers, and Chloe Huntzinger
3rd Place – Digital Video Production – the team of Fatima Aboulalazm, Natalie Vrban, Jada Price, Mike Andrews, Tyler Andrews, and Nathan Erickson
3rd Place – On Demand Video – the team of Fatima Aboulalazm, Natalie Vrban, Jada Price, Mike Andrews, Tyler Andrews, and Nathan Erickson
3rd Place – Video Game Design – the team of Steven Ripple, Mark Reifsteck, Logan Bassett, and Alex Barnes