UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

The University of Texas at Tyler Innovation Academy Advances to National Technology Student Association Competition

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May 15, 2017

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

High school teams from The University of Texas at Tyler Innovation Academy have advanced to nationals in a competitive Technology Student Association competition, Dr. JoAnn Simmons, IA superintendent, announced.

Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science, or TEAMS, is an annual TSA competition that gives students an opportunity to discover engineering and how it can help make a difference in the world.

IA Tyler campus and IA Longview campus TEAMS groups placed first and fifth in Texas, respectively. Both teams will go on to compete at this year's nationals set for June in Orlando. This is the first time The University of Texas at Tyler has participated in the competition, where students work collaboratively to solve real-world engineering challenges and apply their math and science skills in practical, creative ways.

"The 9th and 10th grade students exuded tenacity when preparing and participating in this competition by collaboratively planning and supporting each other," said Aimee Dennis, IA Tyler campus director. "We are very proud of Trevor Dublin, Tejas Narayanan, Samuel Smith, Anna Cooper, Matthew Fisher and Jade Nunn for placing first in the state, and the students are excited about the opportunity to compete in the national competition in Florida this summer."

The TEAMS competition allowed the students to apply knowledge gained from the Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics focus of The University of Texas at Tyler Innovation Academy to multiple formats including an essay, multiple choice and a design challenge. For more information about the competition, visit http://teams.tsaweb.org.

The University of Texas at Tyler Innovation Academy is a public university charter school with campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine. Campuses incorporate STEM education into daily classroom curriculum and utilize a hands-on learning approach to better equip students with the 21st century skills required to succeed in the future. For more information, visit uttia.org/.

One of the 14 campuses of the UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at The University of Texas at Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 10,000 high-ability students. The University of Texas at Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.