Texas TSA Rulebook Introduction
The Texas Technology Student Association (TSA) State Competition is managed and conducted by the Texas TSA Board of Directors and Texas TSA State Contest Director, under the oversight of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and its policies regarding CTSOs. The state competition includes: a business meeting, state officer elections, project competition and student competitive events.
All interested Technology Education students in Texas are invited to attend this annual meeting. The specific time and place of events and contest details will be distributed by the Contest Director.
The cost of transporting and insuring the projects to and from the competition is the responsibility of the school, teachers, and student. Texas TSA will not be responsible for damage, loss, or theft before, during, or after the competition. Texas TSA will not be responsible for mailing or shipping of any projects or awards. Chapters will be solely responsible for picking up projects and awards at the end of the State Contest. Anything left after contest will be thrown away by the Fort Worth Convention Center within 1 hour after the closing of the last general session.
The competition is restricted to the activities and classifications described in this publication. The competition does not attempt to provide a classification for additional activities that might be conducted in the Technology Education programs or other school programs. Only those students and advisors who are registered members of the Texas Technology Student Association (TSA) are on the regular mailing list. If you would like to receive information regarding state competition, or affiliation please contact the Texas TSA Executive Director
Visit the Affiliation page on our main website to learn more about how to join TSA.
State Contest Fees
After qualifying through a Texas TSA regional contest, students are eligible to participate and compete in the Texas TSA State Contest, held in Fort Worth. Dates for the event will be posted on the Texas TSA homepage or events page.
Texas TSA does not refund any money for unused state entries. Texas TSA does not require a student to be present at State Contest to enter their project(s), unless they are competing in an event that requires the student to be physically present for the event. Those events include all National Qualifying Events and Unique to Texas Onsite Events.
Contest Management Team
Texas TSA’s contest management team proudly oversee the management of the Texas TSA contest and are responsible for the following:
- Developing and operating within a yearly budget
- Coordinating with convention center, hotels, vendors, etc
- Developing procedures for safe and efficient operation of event
- Creating and maintaining the event schedule for contest
- Determining staffing and judging needs
- Meeting with each other as needed to organize for the upcoming school year
Annually, Texas TSA recruits people to run all the Unique to Texas events and National Qualifying events, Coordinating Judge Chairman, National Qualifying Event Coordinator, School Awards Coordinator, all Room/Hall Coordinators, Special Services and Contest Consultants. Advisors who have a concern regarding an event or competition rules should first contact the State Contest Director.
State Contest Director
Jeff Taylor
contest.director@texastsa.org
Executive Director
Pamela Cook
executive.director@texastsa.org
National Qualifying Event (NQE) Managers
Cody Logsdon and Kristin Rausch
nqe@texastsa.org
RECF (VEX Robotics) Event Managers
Emily Gresham, Devin Murphy, & Thea Drake
vex@texastsa.org
Data Managers
Alex Garcia & Emily Gresham
Judges Coordinator
Angela Mowery
judges@texastsa.org
Officer Coordinator(s)
Jennifer O’Brian, Rachelle Ferguson, Josh Simmons, and Cody Logsdon
officer.coordinator@texastsa.org
Event Coordinators
Unique to Texas Events (Onsite, Projects, and V5RC & VIQRC Robotics)
Each Event Coordinator, after consultation with the State Contest Director, is responsible for the operation of the area assigned and has complete control and authority concerning that event.
Questions of eligibility are the responsibility of the State Advisor. Concerns/Protests regarding an event must be directed to the Event Coordinator at the time of the event using the Texas TSA Protest Form.
National Qualifing Events
The Event Coordinator works under the guidance of the NQE Managers appointed by Texas TSA. If modifications are needed to the structure or rules of the event those have been approved by the NQE Managers. Protests must be made the time of the event using the National Qualifying Event Protest Form.
Awards
Texas TSA is honored to provide student members with awards at State Contest for distinguished work.
UTE Project/Onsite Awards
Only the top 5 ranked entries in each classification will be recognized. This includes all:
- Unique to Texas Events - OnSite (MU & HU)
- Unique to Texas Events - Projects (MP & HP)
| Placement | Award | Overall Award Point Tabulation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1st Place Medallion | 5 points |
| 2nd | 2nd Place Medallion | 4 points |
| 3rd | 3rd Place Medallion | 3 points |
| 4th | Texas TSA Finalist Pin | 2 points |
| 5th | Texas TSA Finalist Pin | 1 point |
Best in State Patch: A student who receives the 1st Place award for their entry is eligible to purchase a BIS patch.
Purchasing Awards
One award per event placing is provided by Texas TSA. Awards are distributed after the Awards Ceremony which is during the Third General Session. Chapters that do not pick up their earned awards will forfeit their awards. Earned awards will not be mailed to Chapters. Additional awards may be purchased by the advisor, with two options available as described below
Option A - OnSite
Chapters can purchase additional awards on-site. Accepted forms of payment are PayPal, cash, or check.
Option B - By Mail
Chapters can purchase awards up to 10 calendar days after the end of the State Contest by completing a form that will be available at the awards desk after the Third General Session. Chapters wishing to purchase additional awards after State Contest will be required to pay the postage cost to mail the awards via USPS Priority Mail. Advisors may pay with a PO, PayPal, cash or check. First Place for all NQE Events and UTE OnSite Events will receive an event banner, (1) first place medal, and (1) BIS Patch. Additional banners are not available for purchase.
UTE Chapter Awards
High Point Chapter Awards are broken down into 3 divisions for Middle Schools and 4 divisions for High Schools. These divisions are based upon the number of entries from the Texas TSA Rulebook in the UTE categories that each school enters at the State Contest. First, Second, & Third place trophies are awarded to the highest placing Chapters based upon the total of points earned for all of a Chapter’s 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, & 5th Place entries. NQE event entries are not included in the entry count or points for the UTE Chapter Awards.
New in 2025, a project must earn a minimum of 70% of the possible points on their rubric to earn points towards the Chapter Awards. They will receive their individual awards regardless of score. Also, projects that are entered into the Exploratory Events will not count towards the number of entries or total points earned.
First, second and third place awards will be given in the following Divisions:
High Point Chapter - Middle School
Division I 1-10
Division II 11-40
Division III 41 or more
High Point Chapter - High School
Division I 1-30
Division II 31-60
Division III 61-100
Division IV 101 or more
NQE Chapter Awards
Additionally, the Top 3 Chapters that place based on only the Chapter's National Qualifying Events will be recognized using the same point values.
Middle School
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
High School
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Chapters must be present at the Awards Ceremony during the Third General Session in order to receive all Chapter Awards. Awards will not be mailed to Chapters that are not present for the Awards Ceremony.