Key Takeaways
- Oklahoma TSA students earned 8 national championships, 8 second‑place finishes, 10 third‑place finishes, and 21 Gold Achievement Awards at the 2025 National TSA Conference.
- The state produced 66 top‑10 finalists and secured four State Superlative Membership awards (largest middle‑school chapter, most middle‑school chapters, most middle‑school members, most overall chapters).
- Oklahoma was one of only five states to meet the National TSA’s “Forward to Fifty” membership target for the 2025‑2026 school year, moving the organization closer to its goal of 3,000 chapters or 500,000 members by its 50th anniversary in 2028.
- A delegation of 309 students and 58 advisers represented Oklahoma, with middle‑school and high‑school competitors participating in separate divisions.
- Individual and team first‑place winners spanned a wide range of events, including Audio Podcasting, Chapter Team, Construction Challenge, Leadership Strategies, Flight, and Prepared Speech.
Overview of Oklahoma TSA’s National Performance
At the 2025 National TSA Conference held in Washington, D.C. and National Harbor, Maryland, Oklahoma’s Technology Student Association delegation showcased remarkable depth and breadth across competitive events. The state’s students accumulated a total of eight national championships, underscoring consistent excellence in both technical and leadership categories. In addition to the top‑spot honors, Oklahoma teams claimed eight second‑place awards and ten third‑place awards, reflecting strong performances that repeatedly placed them within the medal tier. Beyond the podium finishes, 21 Gold Achievement Awards were earned, recognizing outstanding individual and team accomplishments that met rigorous national standards. Collectively, these results contributed to sixty‑six top‑10 finalists, a figure that illustrates the widespread competitiveness of Oklahoma’s TSA chapters across multiple disciplines.
National Championship Wins Detail
The eight first‑place championships were earned by a mix of middle‑school and high‑school teams and individuals. Alex Middle School secured two titles: Audio Podcasting (Team One) and Chapter Team, demonstrating strength in both multimedia communication and collaborative leadership. Oneta Ridge Middle School in Broken Arrow captured victories in Community Service Video and Mass Production, highlighting their ability to blend civic engagement with technical manufacturing skills. Whittier Middle School in Norman won the Construction Challenge, showcasing expertise in design, building, and problem‑solving under timed conditions. Jenks Middle School claimed the Leadership Strategies title, reinforcing the state’s focus on cultivating effective student leaders. On the individual side, Luke Eubanks of Stillwell Middle School triumphed in Flight, while Ryder Drennon from Alex Middle School won Prepared Speech, illustrating Oklahoma’s prowess in both aerospace‑related projects and oral communication.
Second Place Awards Detail
Oklahoma’s second‑place finishers spanned a variety of technical and presentation events, further confirming the state’s well‑rounded talent pool. Alex Middle School earned a second‑place ribbon in Audio Podcasting (Team Three), showing consistency across multiple podcasting entries. Edmond North High School placed second in Board Game Design, reflecting creativity in game mechanics and educational value. Jenks Middle School secured second in Coding, while Jenks High School achieved the same standing in Debating Technological Issues, indicating strong computational thinking and argumentation skills. Edmond Heartland Middle School and Edmond Santa Fe High School both earned second‑place finishes in Tech Bowl, a fast‑paced quiz competition testing knowledge across STEM disciplines. Individual second‑place honors went to Cooper King of Vian Middle School for Prepared Speech and Sameha Ghost of Whittier Middle School for Promotional Marketing, highlighting standout communication and marketing abilities.
Third Place Awards Detail
The ten third‑place awards forebears of strong student achievement in categories that demand both technical precision and artistic flair. Byng Junior High placed third in Children’s Stories, illustrating narrative talent aimed at younger audiences. Edmond North High School earned dual third‑place finishes in Fashion Design and Technology, blending apparel design with technological integration. Alex Middle School accumulated three third‑place recognitions in Forensic Technology, Mass Production, and Tech Bowl, underscoring versatility across investigative science, manufacturing processes, and general STEM knowledge. Central Middle School in Bartlesville secured third place in STEM Animation, demonstrating skill in digital storytelling and scientific visualization. Bartlesville High School rounded out the list with a third‑place finish in Virtual Reality Simulation, showcasing competence in immersive technology development. Individual third‑place awards were awarded to Ethan Anderson of Fort Gibson Middle School for CAD Foundations, Asher Stone of Purcell Junior High for Dragster, and Avery McCauley of Alex Middle School for Promotional Marketing.
Gold Achievement Awards Recipients
The Gold Achievement Award recognizes students and teams that meet or exceed rigorous national benchmarks for excellence in their respective events. Oklahoma’s honorees came from a diverse array of schools, reflecting widespread participation. From Edmond Heartland Middle School, recipients included Stuthi Baliga, Owen Jackson, and Jayden Lu. Edmond Santa Fe High School was represented by Akshaj “Aks” Dalavayi, Blake Jackson, and Vincent Weng. Southridge Junior High School in Moore contributed Paxton Gray, while the Life Ready Center in Lawton sent Jase Hawthorne and Adam Murphy. Jenks Middle School’s awardees were Aaron Huang and Bipul Lamichhane. Additional honorees came from Tulsa Tech‑Jenks High School, Vanguard Academy in Broken Arrow, Atoka High School (represented by Madeline Kiser and Ruby Miller), Stillwater High School, Dunbar Intermediate School in Okmulgee, Hominy High School, and Francis Tuttle Technology Center‑Portland. This extensive list illustrates the breadth of talent nurtured across Oklahoma’s educational institutions.
State Superlative Membership Awards
Beyond competition medals, Oklahoma TSA earned recognition for its organizational growth and chapter vitality. The state was awarded Largest Middle School Chapter to Jenks Middle School, a testament to its ability to attract and retain a substantial number of middle‑school participants. Oklahoma also claimed the titles of State with Most Middle School Chapters, State with Most Middle School Members, and State with Most Overall Chapters. These accolades indicate that the state’s TSA network is not only large in raw numbers but also balanced across age groups, ensuring a strong pipeline of future technologists and leaders. Such membership milestones are critical for sustaining program funding, securing advisor support, and providing students with diverse collaborative opportunities.
Progress Toward the Forward to Fifty Goal
The National TSA’s “Forward to Fifty” initiative aims to reach either 3,000 chapters or 500,000 members by the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2028. For the 2025‑2026 school year, Oklahoma was one of only five states to meet its interim membership target, demonstrating effective recruitment, retention, and engagement strategies. Achieving this milestone contributes directly to the national objective, positioning Oklahoma as a model for other states seeking to expand their TSA footprint. Continued success at the intersection levels.
Conference Participation Statistics reflects coordinated efforts among state advisors, school administrators, and student leaders who prioritize outreach, mentorship, and inclusive programming.
Conference Participation Statistics
Oklahoma sent a robust delegation to the national event, comprising 309 students and 58 advisers. This sizable contingent allowed the state to field multiple teams across both middle‑school and high‑school divisions, ensuring that competitors could engage in events appropriate to their skill levels and age groups. The separation of middle‑school and high‑school participants into distinct levels at the conference facilitated fair competition and enabled younger students to gain experience without being overshadowed by older peers. The large adviser contingent underscores the state’s commitment to providing adequate supervision, guidance, and logistical support, which are essential for maximizing student performance and safety during travel and competition.
Breakdown by School Level and Notable Winners
Analyzing the award distribution reveals strengths at both educational tiers. Middle‑school schools such as Alex Middle School, Oneta Ridge Middle School, Whittier Middle School, and Jenks Middle School secured multiple first‑place finishes in events ranging from Audio Podcasting and Chapter Team to Construction Challenge and Leadership Strategies. High‑school institutions like Edmond North High School, Jenks High School, and Edmond Santa Fe High School excelled in Board Game Design, Debating Technological Issues, Tech Bowl, and Fashion Design and Technology. Individual standouts—Luke Eubanks (Flight), Ryder Drennon (Prepared Speech), Cooper King (Prepared Speech), Sameha Ghost (Promotional Marketing), and others—demonstrated that personal excellence thrives alongside team achievements. This balanced success indicates that Oklahoma’s TSA curriculum effectively scaffolds skills from foundational middle‑school projects to advanced high‑school challenges.
Impact and Future Outlook
The 2025 National TSA Conference outcomes affirm Oklahoma’s status as a leader in student STEM engagement. The combination of championship medals, high placement counts, Gold Achievement Awards, and superlative membership recognitions paints a picture of a vibrant, growing ecosystem that nurtures technical proficiency, leadership, and collaborative problem‑solving. Looking ahead, the state’s progress toward the Forward to Fifty goal suggests that membership expansion will continue, likely yielding even larger contingents at future national conferences. Sustained investment in advisor training, resource allocation, and student‑led initiatives will be crucial to maintain—and potentially surpass—the current trajectory of success. As Oklahoma TSA builds on this foundation, its students are well‑positioned to contribute innovatively to the state’s technological workforce.