Philip D. Brown/Daily Journal Technology Student Association Jeramie Sale explained the Flight Endurance design that won him first place at state competition to the school board Tuesday night. The club will travel to participate in the national competition at the expense of the school system.

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The Board of Education is sending three members of the high school’s Technology Students Association to Texas in June to compete in a national event after bringing home state prizes.

The TSA State Competitive events were held earlier this month in Greensboro, where students Jeramie Sale, Zach Meachum and the team of Chase Kocan and Karrissa Horton all placed either first or second.

Tuesday night, Sale displayed his award-winning design to achieve flight endurance, a model plane which cruised above ground for about a minute.

“I earned some extra time because it landed on its wheels when it did come down, so I think it came out to about a minute and seven seconds,” Sale explained to board members. “The next closest one was about 47 seconds.”

Board member Tom McInnis asked Sale if he is interested in a career involving aviation, asking if he had any particular interest in becoming a pilot, engineer or perhaps mechanic.

“I really just want to take this and see where it goes,” Sale responded.

McInnis pointed to efforts to add a training program for students at the county’s airport.

“It’s a fabulous career that has the potential to take you across the world,” McInnis explained to Sale. “I think you are to be commended for your efforts to work toward it.”

Kocan followed Sale to the podium, where he displayed his and Horton’s design for the pins to be given to those who participated in the state competition. This first place entry was adapted.

“Everyone who participates in it gets a lapel pin, and they’re going to use our pin design,” he told board commissioners.

Finally, Meachum explained his second place winning dragster design.

“I chose this design because of its aerodynamics,” he explained to board members, holding the design high enough for them to see.”

During the field trip portion of the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robert Beck pointed out the students were eligible to have their trip to Dallas to participate in the national competition paid for by the school system.

“We have said that anytime students win first or second place in a state competition, we will pay for them to go to the national competition,” Beck said. “It is my recommendation that we go ahead and do that for these students.”

The measure was unanimously passed by the board. The trip runs for five days beginning June 21, with the conference being held at the Gaylord Texan Resort.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 15, or by e-mail at pbrown@heartlandpublications.com.