Congratulations to Tucker Creek Middle School TSA Team for Their Outstanding National Achievements!

From June 27 to July 1, Tucker Creek Middle School proudly represented Craven County Schools at the TSA (Technology Student Association) National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Under the leadership of advisor Mrs. Dina Thompson, seven dedicated students competed on a national stage, joining thousands of students from across the country and around the world.

Each Tucker Creek student earned first place in one or more events at the NCTSA State Conference, qualifying them for the national competition. Their participation is the result of hundreds of hours of hard work, creativity, and innovation, and their achievements at nationals were truly remarkable.

Mechanical Engineering – 1st Place in the Nation
Travis Elder and Brian Thompson took home 1st place nationally for their impressive work in the Mechanical Engineering competition. The duo engineered a Mousetrap Car powered solely by the energy of a mousetrap, capable of traveling over 10 feet, reversing direction, and stopping precisely 7 feet beyond the starting point. They nailed both attempts!
Their win required more than mechanical skills; they also created an extensive Engineering Design Process portfolio, complete with CAD drawings, and delivered an articulate explanation of their project during a judge interview.

Digital Photography – 3rd Place in the Nation
Sarah VanOver earned 3rd place nationally in Digital Photography. She submitted a preliminary portfolio that demonstrated her mastery of photography principles and artistic editing techniques. At nationals, she completed a time-sensitive, on-site photography challenge and participated in an interview to explain her creative process.

Flight – Top 10 National Finalist + Gold Achievement Award
Brian Thompson also became a Top 10 National Finalist in Flight. He first submitted a balsa wood plane for judging, and after qualifying, built a new plane in under 45 minutes to compete for the longest flight time.
In addition to his Flight success, Brian received the prestigious TSA Gold Achievement Award, a rare honor recognizing student excellence. He is the only middle school student in North Carolina to earn this award!

We are so proud of this spectacular team and their incredible accomplishments on the national stage. Their success is a testament to their determination, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Way to go, Mustangs!