About

The Technology Student Association (TSA), formerly the American Industrial Arts Student Association (AIASA), is the oldest student membership organization dedicated exclusively to students enrolled in technology and engineering education classes in middle and high schools. Its rich history spans more than four decades.

From 1958 to 1978, AIASA is a sponsored activity of the American Industrial Arts Association (AIAA). In 1978, the nonprofit corporation, AIASA, Inc., is formed to oversee AIASA as a separate organization. From 1978 to 1988, the organization grows in size, strength, structure, and impact on students and secondary school programs. In the summer of 1988, AIASA becomes the Technology Student Association.

Milestones

• 1978 First Board of Directors of AIASA, Inc. is elected in February.

• 1978 U.S. Office of Education recognizes AIASA as the official vocational student organization for industrial arts students.

• 1978 AIASA, Inc. is created, beginning financial independence from AIAA.

• 1978 Ronald W. Applegate is hired as first executive director under AIASA, Inc.

• 1979 AIASA holds its first national conference separate from AIAA.

• 1981 National Standards for Industrial Arts Programs includes 11 specific Standards related to student organizations.

  • • Jenny Robichaux becomes AIASA’s first female president.

• 1983 AIASA’s first national service project is established. Members across the country raise money to help with restoration of the Statue of Liberty.

• 1985 Revised Competitive Events Handbook with 5-Year Planning Matrix is published.

• 1986 National President Emily Wise appears on the nationally televised Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon to present a fundraising check for funds raised by members across the country as part of AIASA’s second national service project.

• 1988 On June 22nd, students vote to change name of AIASA to Technology Student Association. A name change trademark application is placed on file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Its first president is Curtis Sheets of Virginia.

• 1988 The national office relocates from 1908 Association Drive to 1914 Association Drive in Reston, VA.

• 1989 The official TSA logo is designed by TSA chapter advisor Steve Price of Georgia. The membership adopts the logo for use at the national, state, and local level.

• 1990 The TSA logo receives a registered trademark by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

• 1991 A membership recruitment program, "Shoot for the Stars," is created. In the mid 1990s, it evolves into the Star Recognition Program (White, Red, and Blue Star Chapters).

• 1992 The TSA elementary program, TechnoKids, is created. Later, it is renamed The Great Technology Adventure.

• 1992 Tonya Vandergriff becomes TSA's first female president.

• 1993 The TSA Technology Honor Society is established.

• 1994 For the first time, national TSA has more than 100,000 members. The first National TSA Day is held on April 24th.

• 1995 In a partnership between TSA and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the American Technology Honor Society is formed.

• 1996 TSA's competitive events program is divided between the middle school and high school levels; each, with its own competition guidelines.

• 1997 The National TSA Conference in Washington, D.C. becomes the first National TSA Conference with more than 3,500 participants.

• 1998 TSA's annual leadership conference is held in two locations: Denver, CO, and Baltimore, MD.

• 1999 Under the direction of national TSA President James Coleman, Jr., the TSA Constitution and Bylaws are revised and combined. TSA membership approves a new comprehensive governing document and raises the membership dues to $7.

• 2000 The American Technology Honor Society becomes the National Technology Achievement Award.

• 2001 TSA officially becomes the Technology Student Association and receives trademark status from the USPTO.

• 2002 TSA launches its newly redesigned website, TSAweb.org.

• 2003 TSA celebrates its 25th anniversary. The 25th Anniversary Fund is created to provide membership scholarships to underserved communities. National TSA Day is extended to National TSA Week.

• 2004 TSA conducts a first ever Relay Rally for the American Cancer Society at a National TSA Conference.

• 2005 TSA launches the DuPont Leadership Academy at its national conference. The TSA website is redesigned with two online stores, one for TSA apparel and one for TSA publications and products. TSA's quarterly newsletter begins appearing on the website.

• 2006 TSA is awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to host a two-day STEM symposium for stakeholders and robotics education experts to develop a robotics assessment rubric that can be incorporated into competitive event activities and instruction in the classroom.

• 2007 TSA offers its members online affiliation as well as online national conference registration.

• 2008 TSA expands the DuPont Leadership Academy at the 30th annual National TSA Conference in Orlando, FL to include sessions for graduating seniors; chapter and state officers; and advisors.

• 2009 Developed through a partnership among national TSA, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), and SkillsUSA—the Engineering Alliance offers classroom level competitions and leadership development activities designed specifically for PLTW-affiliated middle and high school pre-engineering instructional programs.

• 2010 The TSA VEX Robotics Competition partnership provides students with a hands-on, co-curricular competition for STEM and complements the existing technology-related competitions offered by TSA. TSA VEX Robotics tournaments are conducted in conjunction with TSA’s state conferences, followed by a championship event at the National TSA Conference.

• 2011 TSA acquires the TEAMS and Unite programs from the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS).

• 2012 TSA partners with the Verizon Foundation to offer the Verizon Innovative Learning app challenge.

• 2013 TSA celebrates its 35th anniversary.

• 2013 TSA hosts the Best in Nation TEAMS competition at the National TSA Conference.

• 2014 National TSA has more than 200,000 members for the school year and the National TSA Conference attendance climbs to nearly 7,000.

• 2014 TSA holds the first national Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) competition.

• 2014 All national TSA competitors are required to wear the blue, official TSA shirt.

• 2015 National TSA President Steven Stokes represents TSA at the White House in Washington, D.C.

• 2016 TSA's leadership program, LEAP, is announced.

• 2017 The national office relocates from 1914 Association Drive to 1904 Association Drive in Reston, VA.

• 2018 TSA celebrates its 40th anniversary.

• 2019 TSA introduces the Computer Science Initiative.

• 2020 The 2020 National TSA Conference, scheduled for Nashville, TN, was not held due to Covid-19.

• 2021 TSA’s first virtual conference