Home» About Us» National TSA History

National TSA History 

The Technology Student Association (TSA), formerly AIASA, is the only organization dedicated exclusively to students enrolled in technology education classes grades K-12. It has a rich history that spans three decades. Three distinct periods may be found in TSA's history. During the period from 1958 to 1978, the American Industrial Arts Student Association (AIASA) was a sponsored activity of the American Industrial Arts Association (AIAA). In 1978, the nonprofit corporation, AIASA, Inc., was formed to oversee AIASA as a separate organization. During the decade that followed, the organization grew in size, strength, structure, and impact on students and secondary school programs. The summer of 1988 closed this third decade as AIASA reached another milestone, a change in the organization's name: the Technology Student Association (TSA).

 Milestones in TSA's History

1978  First Board of Directors of AIASA, Inc. elected in February.
U.S.Office of Education recognized AIASA as the official vocational student organization for industrial arts students.
AIASA, Inc. is created, beginning financial independence from AIAA.
Ronald W. Applegate hired as first Executive Director under AIASA, Inc

.
1979 AIASA holds first national conference separate from AIAA.

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

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

1988 Students vote to change name of AIASA to Technology Student Association (TSA) (June 22) A name change trade mark application was placed on file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Its first president was Curtis Sheets of Virginia.
1988  The national office relocated from 1908 Association Drive to its present home at 1914 Association, in Reston, VA

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

1990 The TSA logo received a registered trade mark by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

1991 A membership recruitment program was created, "Shoot for the Stars." In the mid '90s, it evolved into the Star Recognition Program (White, Red and Blue Star Chapters).

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

1993 Tonya Vandergriff became TSA's first female president.

1994 For the first time, National TSA had more than100,000 members. The first ever National TSA Day was held on April 24.

 

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

1996 TSA's competitive events program was divided between the middle school and high school levels with each having its own competition guidelines.

 1997
 TSA's national conference was held in Washington, DC and it was the first conference with more than 3,500 participants.

1998 TSA's annual leadership conference took place in two locations, Denver,CO, and Baltimore, MD.

1999  Under the direction of TSA president James Coleman, Jr. the TSAConstitution and Bylaws were revised and combined. The TSA membershipapproved a new comprehensive governing document and raised the membership dues to $7.

2000 The American Technology Honor Society became the National Technology Achievement Award.

 

 2001 TSA officially became the Technology Student Association and received trademark status from the United States Patent and Trademark Office

2002  TSA launches its newly redesigned website, www.tsaweb.org.

2003  TSA celebrates its 25th anniversary. The 25th Anniversary Fund was created to provide membership scholarships to under-served communities. National TSA Day was extended to National TSA Week.

 

2004 TSA conducts a first ever Relay Rally at its national conference for the American Cancer Society.

 

 2005 TSA launches the DuPont Leadership Academy at its national conference, the Mentor Program, TSA and the American Cancer Society launch the Spirit of Service Awards program. Also, the TSA website was again redesigned with two online stores, one for TSA apparel and one for TSA publications and products. TSA's quarterly newsletter, School Scene, started appearing on the website in HTML.

 Past Presidents - AIASA and TSA

Year     President      State
1978 - 79 Jeff Short Oklahoma
1979 - 80  Rick Saucier Louisiana
1980 - 81 Chris Hoffman  New Jersey
1981 - 82 Jenny Robichaux Louisiana
1982 - 83 Dan La Fountain Connecticut
1983 - 84 Mark Powers  Virginia
1984 - 85 Robert Stokes Oklahoma
1985 - 86 George Munn  Florida
1986 - 87 Emily Wise  Virginia
1987 - 88 Adam Zakarian Pennsylvania
1988 - 89 Curtis Sheets Virginia 
1989 -90 Chris Beuershausen Texas
1990 - 91 Quang Le Delaware
1991 - 92 Guy Cecil  Florida
1992 - 93 Tonya Vandergriff Tennessee
1993 - 94 Kevin Thigpen Mississippi
1994 - 95 DeVere Day Utah
1995 - 96 Brooke Davis West Virginia
1996 - 97 Matt Zimmerman Oklahoma
1997 - 98 Bart Slabbekorn Tenessee
1998 - 99 James Coleman, Jr. Virginia
1999 - 00 Katrina Miller  Tennessee
2000 - 01 Misty Lamb  Florida
2001 - 02 Casey Loper  Oklahoma
2002 - 03 Michael Ward Oklahoma
2003 - 04 Amy Groner Tennessee
2004 - 05 Bradley Jennings Oklahoma

2005 - 06 Katti Galombos Tennessee

2006 - 07

2007 - 08 K.C. Cushman Tennessee