Background:

In response to the annual design challenge, participants develop a set of architectural plans and related materials, and construct both a physical and computer-generated model to accurately depict their design. Semifinalists deliver a presentation and participate in an interview.

This year’s theme: You are tasked with designing a unique barndominium for a family of five. Create a harmonious balance between comfortable family living and the beauty of the natural surroundings.  

Participants use digital audio technology to create original content for a podcast piece that addresses the annual theme. The podcast must feature high level storytelling techniques, voice acting, and folly sound effects; the full entry must include documentation of the podcast development process and elements. Semifinalists participate in an interview.

This year’s theme: “History or Mystery” Students create an audio podcast that focuses on a real-life or fictitious historical event from the past.

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor. Only the team captain will be able to upload the file.

Students should submit completed portfolio as a pdf file.

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor.

In response to the annual theme, participants create an illustrated children’s story of artistic, instructional, and social value, and submit documentation related to the development of the physical storybook. Semifinalists read their story aloud and participate in an interview.

This year’s theme: Students develop and produce a non-fiction, die-cut board book

Participants research the annual topic and subtopics and prepare for a debate against a team from another chapter. Teams are instructed to take either the pro or con side of a selected subtopic, submit a summary of references, and use their research to support their assigned position. The quality of a team’s debate determines semi finalists and finalists.

This year’s theme: Artificial Intelligence and Ethics

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor.

Submission: Pre-Conference + Physical.

Submission: Pre-Conference ONLINE, students submit sketches and finalized technical drawing as a multipage PDF file.

A. The dragster, drawing, and materials list must be received by the NJ TSA 

B. Cars that do not meet specifications will NOT be raced. 

The documentation portfolio, including the scientific poster, must be finished, submitted, and accessible via the Internet by 11:59pm on April 1, 2026.

Hoidz ID#: 2082036

Hicks ID#: 2082037

Zeng ID#: 2082038

Sweeney ID#: 2082039

Malinowski ID#: 2082041

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor. Only the team captain will be able to upload the file.

Students submit images of their display and model, along with a summary of their project/research, saved as a multi-page pdf file.

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor. 

To address the annual theme, participants demonstrate expertise in fashion design principles by creating a wearable garment, garment patterns, and a documentation portfolio. Semifinalist teams present their garment designs (worn by team models), discuss the design process with evaluators, and respond to interview questions.

This year’s theme: Villain Era with one element of the main garment being 3-D printed.

To address the annual theme, participants demonstrate expertise in fashion design principles by creating a wearable garment, garment patterns, and a documentation portfolio. Semifinalist teams present their garment designs (worn by team models), discuss the design process with evaluators, and respond to interview questions.

This year’s theme: Villain Era with one element of the main garment being 3-D printed.

Participants design, build, fly, and adjust (trim) a rubber-band powered model aircraft to make long endurance flights inside a contained airspace. Documentation (including elements such as attributes of the model design, drawings, and an analysis of the trim modifications), an inspection of the model and the required model flight box, and official times for two flights are aspects of the evaluation.

This year’s theme: No theme for 2026, see official rules for specifications

Participants take a test of basic forensic science to qualify for the semifinal round of competition. Semifinalists examine a mock crime scene and demonstrate their knowledge of forensic science through crime scene analysis, with the findings synthesized in a written report/analysis.

This year’s theme: Will be given On-Site

To address the issue presented in an annual theme, participants interpret geospatial data and develop a digital portfolio containing maps, data, and pertinent documentation. Semifinalists defend their projections and visual infographic during a presentation/interview.

This year’s theme: Urban Heat Islands and Cooling Solutions

Participants design, fabricate, and use Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) to create a product that addresses the annual theme. A documentation portfolio and the completed product prototype are submitted for evaluation. Semifinalists give a product “sales pitch” and demonstration.

This year’s theme: Theme: Marble Maze or Puzzle Box

Participants produce an original musical piece designed to be played during the closing session of the national TSA conference. The quality of the musical piece and required documentation (including elements such as a plan of work, self-evaluation, and a list of hardware, software, and instruments used) determines advancement to the semifinal level of competition, during which semifinalist participants are interviewed.

This year’s theme: The year 2026 marks the 250th birthday of the United States. Create a musical piece that can be played as the opening number at a July 4th fireworks show.

Once participants receive the challenge details (required criteria, such as props and a line of dialogue) at the national TSA conference, they have 36 hours to produce a 60-second film that showcases video skills, tools, and communication processes. The quality of the completed video production determines the finalists.

This year’s theme: Will be provided at the start of the 36 hour period in Spring 2026

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password.

Students submit final portfolio as a pdf file

Participants need to bring a laptop with their digital slide deck ready to be shown to judges. The laptop will be placed on the judges table. No projection equipment allowed. 

A. Each presentation must be no less than three (3)

minutes and no more than five (5) minutes.

B. A maximum of one (1) minute is allowed for set-up.

C. At the conclusion of the presentation, participants

must remove all equipment and exit the room.

D. A time deduction as noted in the rubric will be incurred for not adhering to any time designations/restrictions.

Participants use computerized graphic communications layout and design skills to produce a promotional resource packet. The resource must address the annual theme/problem and include at least four printed publication items and required documentation. Semifinalists demonstrate publishing competency in an onsite technical design challenge.

This year’s theme: Create promotional materials for a chapter-hosted event in which TSA alumni return to the chapter to share career stories, run workshops, and mentor students.

Zheng Y ID#: 2082072

Greenleaf ID#: 2082034

Participants research, design, and produce a scale model of a vehicle that complies with the annual design problem. A display for the model and a documentation portfolio – containing elements such as a description of the vehicle, photographs and commentary detailing the vehicle production, and technical illustrations – are required. Semifinalists participate in an interview.

This year’s theme: The Sky is Not the Limit- Next-gen space travel.

Participants design, build, and launch an E-rated online video game – with accompanying required documentation - that addresses the annual theme. Semifinalists participate in an interview to demonstrate the knowledge and expertise they gained during the development of the game.

This year’s theme: Retro Revival: Reimagine an 8-bit or 16-bit era type of game with a modern twist.

Participants design, build, and launch a website that addresses the annual challenge. Semifinalists participate in an interview to demonstrate the knowledge and expertise gained during the development of the website.

This year’s theme: Community Resource Hub

Create a website that will serve as a community resource hub to highlight resources available to residents within the community (e.g., non-profits, support services, community events and programs, etc.)

Participants design, build, and launch a website that addresses the annual challenge. Semifinalists participate in an interview to demonstrate the knowledge and expertise gained during the development of the website.

This year’s theme: Community Resource Hub

Create a website that will serve as a community resource hub to highlight resources available to residents within the community (e.g., non-profits, support services, community events and programs, etc.)

Applying leadership and or 21st century skills participants take a parliamentary procedures test in order to qualify for the semifinals. Semifinalist teams are challenged to complete an opening ceremony, items of business, parliamentary actions, and a closing ceremony within a specified time period.

The 2026 Design Problem will be posted on the NJ TSA website on January 13, 2026.

Participants will be presented with a series of coding problems that must be completed on site at the conference. Evaluation will be based on the successful completion of the problems and the time in which it takes students or teams to complete all the challenges.

In addition to the specific HS Coding competition rules and regulations, students also must adhere to TSA’s general rules (found in the HS competitive events guide).

The USA Computing Olympiad website and the ACM-ICPC International website are helpful resources for the Coding event. Additional resources that can be used to prepare for the event are listed below:

https://icpc.baylor.edu/compete/preparation 

https://www.codechef.com/ 

http://www.usaco.org/index.php?page=contests

http://blog.hackerearth.com/2013/09/competitive-programming-getting-started_11.html

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-strategy-to-improve-my-skills-in-competitive-programming-in-2-3-months

2026 Topic: Identify and use a "Real Estate," "Housing," and/or "Community" related open-source data set for your analyses and research. In the scientific poster, cite the source of the data, including the URL/domain and file format.

Participants identify a societal issue, collect or compile data from various sources about the issue, and then produce documentation and a digital scientific poster about their findings. Semifinalists create a synopsis and digital visual representation of a data set provided in an onsite challenge.  

The documentation portfolio, including the scientific poster, must be finished, submitted, and accessible via the Internet by 11:59pm on April 1, 2026.

Submission procedures will be shared with advisors.

Participants develop and submit a digital video and a documentation portfolio (including such items as a storyboard, script, summary of references and sources, and equipment list) that reflects the annual theme. Semifinalists participate in an interview.

This year’s theme: “A Twist in Time” Create a story that alters a key historical moment—or imagines a character from the past suddenly appearing in the modern day.

As the need for student proficiency in technology (as one area of STEM) is increasing, so is the need for qualified technology education teachers. Technology is moving at a rapid rate and those expected to teach are also expected to adopt this technology as fast as it's developed. Applying leadership and 21st century skills, participants research and prepare a video showing an application for the classroom and create a lesson plan/activity that correlates to the standards for technological literacy utilizing the application. (Use the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association ITEEA website at www.iteea.org for more information about the technology standards.) Topics also should reflect Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives and integration. Lesson plans/activities that explore knowledge, creativity, and skills in the following areas are suggested:

• Medical technology

• Agricultural and biotechnology

• Power and energy technology

• Information and communication technology

• Transportation technology

• Manufacturing technology

• Construction technology

Follow directions in the NJ TSA Supplement to submit your entry. 

1. Entries must be started and completed during the current school year.

 2. Documentation portfolio must be submitted online. Submission procedures will be shared with advisors. 

3. Display and prototype are submitted for evaluation on conference day.   Teams deliver a presentation for judges on conference day of no more than five (5) minutes in length, to present their solution, and demonstrate the prototype/device. 

The remaining components must be submitted on conference day: b. display c. prototype/device d. presentation, up to 5 minutes in length 

The mission of your team is to design, build, assemble, and a robot that can complete landing, dropping, identifying and picking up tasks of varying difficulty in a course designed to test the handling, maneuverability, hardware capabilities, and piloting of your robot. The event will consist of a preinspection and check-in of the team members, Robot and all equipment associated with the control of the robot. 

Theme: Develop a program that enhances the environment and/or agriculture to be more sustainable and efficient.

Teams solve the design problem posted on the NJ TSA website. Model is constructed off-site. No on-site portion. Teams bring completed model for evaluation on conference day, and leave instructions for evaluators to operate the device.

Theme: Create a virtual reality (VR) simulation of a family vacation destination that includes experiences and activities that appeal to both young children and teenagers.