Scene

Hello Virginia TSA! Welcome to the Virginia Scene! In case this is your first year or this is just your first time reading Virginia TSA’s nationally recognized newsletter, this is where you can find the latest information on officers, up- coming events, and even more! We hope you’re starting off the new school year right, because before you know it com- petition season will be right around the corner! Speaking of competitions, this year is going to introduce some amazing new improvements to Technosphere, as well as a fun new twist on Leadership Academy. Your officers can’t wait to see you there! Anyway, it’s time to get to know a little more about your 2018-2019 Executive Council!

Officer Biographies Introducing Your 2018 -2019 State President- Devan Patel

“Hello, it’s me [again],” Virginia TSA, and I am beyond excited to be serving a second term as your Virginia TSA Pres- ident! I am a rising senior at , and I have to admit thinking of being done with high school is both satisfying and terrifying. Thirteen years of education will be complete, but I will lose contact with some of my closest friends. The anguish of college applications will be over, but my seven years in TSA will be over as well. My journey will be filled with unknowns, but I know TSA will never cease to be by my side. I know many of you will be in the same boat as me, and I wish all of you the best of luck in your endeavors!

Wow, it’s the final time I will have the pleasure of writing an officer bio for Virgin- ia TSA as a TSA member, so let me stop sobbing about the future and cherish the pre- sent...

If I haven’t said it enough already, I LOVE TSA! By far, my favorite individual com- petition is Promotional Design and my favorite team competition is Debating Techno- logical Issues. TSA builds our essential workplace skills through competitions like these, and I encourage all of you to explore new competitions in search of adventure and im- provement.

Being involved within your school and local community is extremely rewarding; in my opinion, it has shaped me into a more well-rounded, thoughtful person. In school, I serve as the Senior Class Vice President, President of the Math National Honors Society, Pro-Consul of the Latin Club, and member of both the Latin and Science National Hon- ors Societies. Outside of school and TSA, I love to volunteer at St. Mary’s Hospital where I work the Information Desk and help train new volunteers; and it makes me so happy to teach children to chop, kick, and be happy at Dong’s Karate.

Our organization has molded me into who I am today, and I am truly indebted to the countless number of individuals who have made it possible for me and many others to participate. Over the course of our forty-first year, I challenge you to make the most of all the opportunities TSA brings your way. Reach for the stars and don’t back down from what you believe in! If you have any questions, suggestions, need some advice, or would just like to talk, you can reach me at: [email protected]. In closing, I encourage you to check out the Virginia TSA Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube, and blog accounts, so you can stay up-to-date on the varie- ty of new things that your council already has in-store for you. This is going to be an awesome year; I can just feel it in my bones.

Thank you,

Devan Patel Virginia TSA President

Introducing Your Virginia TSA 2018-2019- State

Vice President—Maggie Dube

I’m Maggie Dube, your 2018-2019 Virginia TSA Vice President. I attend Deep Run High School, and I'm currently the President of my chapter. Programming, Drawing, and meeting new, friendly faces is what I enjoy the most.

Some of the goals I would like to achieve as the Vice President include reaching out to businesses in Virginia to come to Technosphere, getting sponsorships from those busi- nesses, increase fundraising for ACS through more entertain- ing fundraisers, and diminish the divide between the mem- bership and the executive council. As the chair of the Busi- ness Partnerships Committee, I plan on going through a list of businesses with a loca- tion in VA and inviting them to have a booth or a banner at Technosphere. As the chair of the Resolutions Committee, I plan on making some controversial - yet fun - resolu- tions for our 2019 business meeting!

Thanks, Maggie Dube [email protected] (804) 873-2714

Introducing Your Virginia TSA 2018-2019 State Secretary- Virginia Suddarth

Hello, Virginia TSA! My name is Virginia Suddarth and I am glad to be serving as your 2018-2019 State Secretary. I am a rising senior attending Henrico High School for the Center for the Arts program. I joined TSA as an eighth grader at Short Pump Middle School after your current Vice President, Mag- gie Dube, asked me to. I was nervous to join but ended up having an amazing time. My freshman year at Henrico was a complete change compared to my middle school years. The first thing I noticed when I walked into my advisors room for our first TSA meeting was that the room was LOUD… not to mention crowded with unfamiliar faces. There’s no doubt I was nervous, but a few awkward introductions later, I made friends with some of the funniest and sweetest people I know.

Outside of TSA you can catch me drawing, painting, playing or other sports, and reading. My favorite subject is science, more specifically biology. My favorite chal- lenges in TSA are Prepared Presentation, Video Game Design, and Children’s Stories.

Moving on, I cannot wait to spend my final year of high school with you and our amaz- ing executive council team! I hope to meet many of you this year and as summer comes to an end I wish each and every member of our association good luck this coming school year!

Lastly, if any of you have any suggestions or questions for me I would love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] ! Introducing Your 2018-2019 State Treasurer- Rebecca Collins

Hello, Virginia TSA! I’m Rebecca Collins, your 2018-2019 Treasurer! This is my first attempt at writing an interesting bio (although I think it’s technically an autobio) so here goes!

I am a sophomore at Abingdon High School, and this will be my fifth year as a member of this great organization, and joining was possibly one of the best decisions of my life. TSA has taught me everything I know. From parliamentary procedure to public speaking to leadership, TSA has instilled in me so many things that I will be able to use in the future. When I joined in the sixth grade, I never imagined I would ev- er run for (or be elected to) a state office! I am very excited to be serving on the 2018- 2019 Executive Council, and I can’t wait to interact with each one of you at some point throughout the year! Aside from leadership, I love to compete. Whether it’s Chapter Team, Biotechnology, Children’s Stories, or GIS, I love working with my team to accom- plish amazing things; something I’m excited to do with this year’s state officer team!

Other than TSA, music is my passion. I joined band in the sixth grade, but I was exposed to music several years before. In elementary school, I partook in the Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy, where we traveled and performed across the region. While I enjoyed singing, I quickly realized that I’d rather be playing an in- strument. I decided to play percussion in band because within the section there is a wide variety of instruments, such as marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, bass drum, snare drum, brake drum, crash cymbals, and the triangle (just to name a few)! As I entered the eighth grade, I was given the opportunity to march in my high school’s marching band. That season, I was in the front ensemble. I loved the experi- ence, but that following year I wanted to be in the drumline. Last year, I had the privi- lege of marching snare, and I’m so excited to be doing it again along with Ashley Sook- lal, your Southwestern Regional President!

As of now I probably seem like a typical “band geek” and “TSA nerd”, but I can as- sure you I have been involved in numerous activities! As a kid I loved playing sports. I enjoyed playing flag football, soccer, , basketball, , and I even achieved the rank of a black belt in Shitō-ryū Karate! Unfortunately, each coach wanted me to choose and focus on one sport and dedicate all my time to it. Being the overachiever I am, I thought I could manage two sports; therefore, I chose basketball and softball. When I entered middle school and joined band and TSA, I quickly realized that I could not partake in so many activities and excel in them all. I unquestionably made one of the greatest decisions of my life and chose to dedicate my time and myself to TSA and band; therefore giving me the opportunity to serve you all now! When I’m not working on TSA-related things or practicing music, I enjoy reading, hanging out at Taco Bell, drawing, looking at (and creating) memes, and of course getting those Victory Royales! If any of you heard my campaign speech at Technosphere or stopped by to talk to me at my campaign booth, you know that one of my biggest goals is to create a Fund- raising Idea Archive. I know from experience that it can be very challenging to find effective ways to fundraise for your chapter or region, and I want to help with that. I’m striving to create a resource that is versatile for any situation, and I’d like your help! If you have any fundraising ideas, suggestions, or any comments in general, please send them to me at [email protected]! I can’t thank you all enough for this amazing opportunity to serve you, and I’m looking forward to seeing each of you at various events in the upcoming year!

Respectfully submitted,

Rebecca Collins Virginia TSA Treasurer

Introducing Your 2018-2019 State Reporter- Lexi Vencill

Hello Virginia TSA! In case you don’t already know, my name is Lexi Vencill. I’m so honored and excited to have the opportunity to be serving as your 2018-2019 State Reporter! I can say without a doubt in my mind that this year is going to be amazing! Believe it or not though, I wasn’t always the girl that would willingly give a speech in front of all of Virginia TSA. I used to be frightened to even say, “here” when the teacher would call roll in class. However, because of joining TSA in sixth grade I finally came out of my shell, made tons of new friends, went on unforgettable trips, and much more! TSA is not just a fancy title to put on an application, it’s like a second home for us nerds.

Some other groups that make me feel at home are softball and especially band. I play middle infield and outfield in softball. I’m fairly new to softball, but so far the peo- ple I’ve met and the experiences I’ve created are absolutely outstanding. On the other hand, the memories, feelings, and victories that band has offered me are beyond com- pare. I play the baritone/euphonium in band. (Go Low Brass!) This is also my third year in the marching band and fifth in concert band. I can’t describe in one little bio how much these sports/pastimes have affected my life in numerous amazing ways. Let’s just say they’re almost as impacting on my life as TSA is. ;)

Some other hobbies you’ll find me partaking in, when I’m not busy with softball, band, or TSA, is eating, sleeping, and playing Pokemon. Believe it or not, I’m a huge Pokemon geek. If you’re free sometime you should challenge me to a battle! Then afterwards we can grab some lunch and take a nap.

If you ever want to know more details about what I plan to do for TSA, what my favorite Pokemon generation is, or just want to chat with me feel free to email my TSA account [email protected] I’d love to hear what the members of Virginia TSA have to say. Thank you so much for reading this and I hope we all make 2018-2019 the best year possible!

Respectfully Submitted, Lexi Vencill Virginia TSA State Reporter

Introducing Your 2018-2019 State Sergeant- at-Arms- Abhishek Singh

Greetings Virginia TSA! My name is Abhishek Singh and I am a rising senior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Henrico High School. For the 2018-2019 TSA season, I am ecstatic to be serving as the Virginia TSA Sergeant – at – Arms! This upcoming year will be my fourth and, unfortunate- ly, my final year in this beloved association. I am thankful for the valuable experiences and life lessons I have taken away from my time in TSA and now I wish to meet more people in our state delegation and make a difference in their lives through TSA. Entering high school as a short freshman, I care- lessly signed up for TSA and soon discovered this association to be my getaway from all the stress I endured in the IB Program. Being a member and leader in this association has helped me grow into the person I am today, and I do not know who I would be if it were not for my friends persuading me to join this club. My favorite challenges to compete in are Engineering Design, Biotechnology Design, and Chapter Team. However, my favorite aspect of TSA is the membership; our delegation, one of the strongest and passionate delegations in the nation, is the main reason why I value my time in TSA.

Outside of TSA, I am an avid member in Model United Nations, American Red Cross Club, National Science Honor Society, and I am the captain of Henrico’s Men’s Varsity Volleyball team. I enjoy spending my time reading books about sleep, watching chemistry videos, and taking naps throughout the day. Through my time in TSA these past three years, I can confidently say that Virginia TSA has a bright future. I hope to meet old and new faces at our annual Leadership Academy and Technosphere this up- coming year and will gladly answer any questions you may have; you can contact me at: [email protected]. See you guys soon!

Introducing Your 2018-2019 State Historian- Sruti Kamarajugadda

Hello Virginia TSA! My name is Sruti Kamarajugadda (side note: it did take me until kindergarten to learn how to spell my last name), and it is an honor to be serving as your 2018-2019 Virginia TSA State Historian. This is my first year on the Virginia TSA Executive Council, and I am so excited to work alongside the other amazing officers in this incredible delegation. I am a rising senior at Deep Run High School, and I am also a part of the High Tech Academy Program in my county. Over the past four years, I fell in love with TSA and my South Central Region. While walking into my first competition room, as a nervous and shy 9th grader, I had no idea then that TSA would become such a large part of my life. TSA taught me to value my goals, to be dedicated, and to persevere; and now I have the opportunity to give back to the organi- zation that has given me so much.

Outside of TSA, I take part in VEX robotics, the National, Math, Science, and Span- ish Honor Societies, and will serve as a delegate for Henrico County’s Student Congress next year. I enjoy being outdoors, writing, and swimming; however, I would choose TSA over doing any of those activities any day! My goals for the following year include creating an accessible online scrapbook, gathering photos and other memorabilia, and improving the communication between officers and members. I am beyond enthusiastic for the year that comes, and I wish to make it my best year in TSA so far! If you ever wish to rant, question the meaning of life, or just want to learn a little more about TSA, feel free to contact me at my email histori- [email protected].

Respectfully Submitted,

Sruti Kamarajugadda Virginia TSA Historian

Introducing Your 2018-2019 State Parlimen- tarian- Hirak Shah

Hello everyone! My name is Hirak Shah and I am a sen- ior at Henrico High School. As parliamentarian, it is my job to make sure all meetings are conducted according to parlia- mentary procedure as set forth by Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised to ensure consensus and make sure that the best interest of the organization is kept in mind. My favorite TSA competition is debate because I love to talk and debating allows both perspectives of an argument to be heard. Outside of TSA, I play and participate heavily in Model United Nations (hence the love for debate). I am also obsessed with food so suggestions are always appreciated! My favorite shows are Arrow and White Collar so if you see me around I’m always ready to talk! My favorite place on earth is the UN Headquarters in New York ,so if you ever get a chance to visit I highly recommend it. Anyway, as parliamentarian, I plan to make sure everyone in the organization is involved and the horizons of TSA are expanded through communi- cating, educating, and innovating. Introducing Your 2018-2019 Blue Ridge Region- al President- Alice Xu

Hello, my fellow Virginia TSA members, I am Alice Xu, and it is my pleasure to be serving as the Blue Ridge Regional President. Friends, delegates, and comrades, I am delighted to represent you on the state council as a fellow STEM enthu- siast and lover of competition. I am currently a Junior at Blacksburg High School, and have been an invested member of TSA for four years and counting. For those of you who have just joined TSA for the brilliant opportunity of finding a STEM field that fits your passion, welcome, and let me be honest in saying that, in my years of being a dedicated member, TSA has been one of the greatest organizations for exploring inter- ests and becoming a leader while doing so. I certainly have had some of the best expe- riences of my life trying out Dragster, Flight, CAD, Medical Technology, Manufacturing, 3 -D Printing, Tech Bowl, Prepared Speech/Extemporaneous Presentation, Architectural Design, Debating Technology Issues, and Essays on Technology - not necessarily in that order, and not all with any degree of success. I have won several National awards, and was a William T. Reed Most Competitive Student at Technosphere for both Middle and High School. I’ve also had years winning nothing at all. If you have diverse competitive interests, feel free to talk to me, and I sincerely hope you take that somewhere! Outside of TSA, I intern at a Microfluidics lab at , paint some and write some, play violin, serve as Treasurer of my student council, and run my school’s Science quiz bowl team. Even though I’ve joined more clubs than I can count, TSA has been by far the most significant of all those extracurricular experiences, and I look for- ward for making it a most enjoyable experience for you as well.

Respectfully Submitted,

Alice Xu Blue Ridge Regional President

Introducing Your Northern Regional President- Rishin Pandit

Hello Virginia TSA! My name is Rishin Pandit and I am currently serving as the president of the Northern Region. I've been entrenched in TSA since 7th grade, making this year my 6th year in TSA. Everything I've done in TSA, from events such as Geospatial to running for regional office, has made an enormous impact on my life. I've never gotten more opportu- nities to make a difference in my region and explore my inter- ests in depth. I've learnt new concepts in STEM and more about myself and what I might want to do later in life. Right now, one of my biggest passions is the intersection of data science and public policy and I aim to continue that.

Outside of TSA, I like to participate in public speaking, volunteer, and delve fur- ther into my interests. I can be found debating or participating in Mock Trial- discussing anything from maritime law to the legality of calling tomatoes a vegetable. In volun- teering, I can be found doing science experiments at the local elementary school or run- ning stations at the Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum. Finally, on my own, I like to delve further into data science, often in intersection with music- looking at lyric frequency and diversity of different artists over time.

I hope you all have a great TSA experience this year and feel free to contact me If you have any suggestions or just want to talk!

Thanks,

Rishin Pandit Northern Regional President

Introducing your Virginia TSA 2018-2019 South Central Regional President- Tyler Yarrow Introducing Your Virginia TSA 2018-2019 South Central Regional President- Tyler Yarrow

Hello Virginia TSA, my name is Tyler Yarow . I couldn’t be more excited to be serving on the 2018 - 2019 Virginia TSA Executive Council as the South Central Regional President. I am a senior at Deep Run High School where I will be serving as the Chapter Secretary. I joined TSA in sixth grade at Hol- man Middle School and after a couple weeks, I knew that TSA was right for me. My favorite competition is Computer Inte- grated Manufacturing because I get the opportunity to work with a partner and use my creativity to design and create a product.

Outside of TSA, I have been a member of a VEX robotics team since seventh grade, am an active member at my church where I serve on a committee, and I work at Chipotle. I am nervously excited for this upcoming year as I know that I will have a lot to do, but I am so excited about all of it (other than college applications of course)! If you ever need to reach me, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Again, I couldn’t be more excited to be a member of the Virginia TSA Executive Council and thank you for giving me this opportunity!

Respectfully Submitted,

Tyler Yarow Introducing Your 2018-2019 Southwestern Regional President- Ashley Sooklal

Hello Virginia TSA! My name is Ashley Sooklal and I am your 2018-2019 Southwestern Regional President. I am going to attempt to interest you in my story of how I worked my way up to executive council in a way that won’t bore you. It all started with my brother, Evan, who served on the council for two years right before he graduated. He started TSA in sixth grade and he was so natural at it, he went to every regional, state, and national competition from then on. That meant I had to go too! So there I was, a mere little third grader, travel- ing to places like Richmond, Dallas, and Nashville for some club my brother was in. Evan brought home all these neat trophies that he put in his room. Every now and then, I’d go in his room (shhh, don’t tell him) and I’d look at the trophies. I decided that whatever he was doing to get those tro- phies, I was going to do it too. Before I knew it, I was participating in Chapter Team, Medical Technology, Technical Design, Community Service Video, and Essays on Tech- nology. Words cannot express how much I have grown as a leader and as a person through my middle school career in TSA. I now open the doors to further continue my TSA journey at Abingdon High School and I am looking forward to every bit of it. Apart from TSA, I participate in a few other activities. For one, I’m in the Abingdon High School Marching Band. I march snare drum beside Rebecca Collins, your current Treas- urer! I’m also in the Gifted and Talented program. When I’m at home, I feel accom- plished when I balance my time to both relax and get homework/practice done. I use my free time to play piano or guitar and, like any kid, scroll on social media and play games. Although, TSA is most definitely one of my top priorities. I am proud to be a part of TSA and serve you, the members of this wonderful organiza- tion. I hope you feel the same when I say I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for Virginia TSA! Respectfully Submitted, Ashley Sooklal Virginia Southwestern Regional President Introducing Your Virginia TSA 2018-2019 Tide Water Regional President- Sierra Funk

Hi Virginia TSA! I’m Sierra Funk , your 2018-19 Tidewat- er Regional President. Currently, I’m a junior at Middlesex High School, home of the Chargers. This is my 6th year in TSA, and I couldn’t be more excited. Since joining TSA in sixth grade it has become my passion and a source of happiness. This is my first year on the State Council and third year on the Regional Council, where I previously served as the Reporter. In addition to TSA I also participate in the Chesapeake Bay Gov- ernor’s School, the Tennis Team, the band program (where I play the Tenor Sax, concert band, and the Mellophone, marching band), and Choir. Outside of school I also volunteer at Jamestown Settlement. I enjoy procrastinating and being awkward as heck; while al- so harboring a YouTube obsession on the side :).

During this upcoming year I have many goals I wish to pursue for the Tidewater Region and our state. It is my ambition to increase the membership of the Tidewater Region as well as the participation of minorities in our region. I would like to see a change in the amount of funds we raise for the American Cancer Society! I’m excited to see what happens this year, so let’s get started!

Respectfully Submitted,

Sierra Funk Tidewater Regional President Introducing your 2018-2019 Valley Region- al President- Madelynne Ritchie

Hey guys! My name is Madelynne Ritchie and I’m a sophomore at Turner Ashby High School. This is my third year in TSA, my second as a regional officer, and my first on the State Council. My favorite competition is Digital Video Production. I love watching my friends embarrass themselves for a good video! I enjoy learning languages, painting, and getting way too involved in watching sports. I’m excited to serve as your Valley Region President for the 2018-19 school year, and to meet all you lovely TSA members!

Respectfully Submitted, Madelynne Ritchie Valley Regional President