Six area schools win Technology Student Association chapter grants from the Appleseeds Foundation
Each year students around the Shenandoah Valley compete in the Virginia State Technosphere competition, showcasing their skills over four days in a variety of competitions. Unlike other competitors in the state, however, these students have a special opportunity.
The Appleseeds Foundation donor-advised fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, promotes technology learning in area public schools with a competitive grant opportunity. Awards are made to middle and high school chapters of the Technology Students Association (TSA) with the best cumulative performances at the state event.
In May, students from Stuarts Draft Middle School and Spotswood High School racked up the wins — and helped their chapter win a $1,500 award. Montevideo Middle School and Wilson tied for second place among area middle schools, and were each awarded $1,000.
Among high schools, Wilson Memorial and Sherando, also tied for second and received $1,000.
The awards are often used to fund travel to the national competition — the 2025 event is this week in Nashville, Tenn. TSA is a national career and technical student organization for students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). More than 300,000 students nationwide participate.
Innovation in charitable giving
“Supporting education is of paramount importance in today’s society, and TSA is a particularly important program for teaching our young folks awareness and skills that will be essential in the future,” said fund advisor Fred Showker. “These students, some day, will be responsible for our quality of life!”
The TSA awards are a great example of how the Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham supports innovations in charitable giving, says Executive Director Revlan Hill.
“This kind of funding is a really unique way of making a difference through charitable giving. Rather than the funds simply going to the chapters, this funding structure set up by the Appleseeds Foundation fund rewards competitive excellence,” she said. “The students see that their efforts can help both their peers, their teacher-advisors, and the program in the future. We love that the advisors are given flexibility in deciding how the funds are used, because they’re the ones who know best how that funding can best serve their students.”
The award structure doesn’t require any involvement from the donors and fund advisors, who can count on TCFHR to continue annual administration. TCFHR staff make sure new and returning advisors are aware of the grant and that points are totaled and sent in after each year’s state competition.
Wilson Middle School advisors John Sellers and Taylor Bauer said the grant helps support the ongoing activities of the chapter — and changes lives as a result.
“Technosphere not only makes a lasting impression on students in shaping their futures, but also provides an opportunity for students to practice life-long skills: team work, problem solving, communicating and presenting ideas, and time management,” they said in a thank-you letter. “Many thanks for being part of this.”
Spotswood brings home six medals
The Spotswood High School TSA chapter took its largest group of students ever to the state competition, winning six medals in the fashion design and technology, geospatial technology, structural engineering and design, technology problem-solving, and manufacturing prototyping contests.
Sherando notched a first-place finish in the technical problem-solving event, creating the longest suspending bridge (by 17 inches) that balanced to two tennis balls without falling.
Wilson Memorial took first place in the CAD-architecture division (their advisor also noted that next year’s president of the Valley region, State Council, comes from Wilson).
Eleven Stuarts Draft Middle School students competed, bringing home three top three finishes in CAD foundations, video game design, and electrical applications.
Montevideo’s best finish was a second place in problem-solving. Wilson took first place in this contest.
All of these six chapters recorded “finalist” finishes as well.
Eligible chapters for this grant include middle and high schools in the counties of Augusta, Bath, Frederick, Greene, and Rockingham counties and Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro and Winchester city schools.
