Student Organizations
Summit Technology Academy has multiple student organizations STA students can join. STA students are highly encouraged to participate in at least one of the following student organizations to gain valuable experience and leadership skills that will help in post-secondary preparation and vocational development. Involvement in these organizations demonstrate a broad range of experiences that prove beneficial on college applications, college scholarship applications, and job applications. STA has three Career and Technical Student Organizations(CTSOs) as well as five other student organizations that allow students to build and explore leadership and career-related opportunities.
CAREER AND TECHNICAL ORGANIZATIONS:
HOSA is an international student organization that has a two-fold mission to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA's goal is to encourage all health science instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HOSA Partnership. Missouri HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, post secondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in health science education and bio-medical science programs, or for those who have interests in pursuing careers in health professions. HOSA is a federally recognized Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) and the co-curricular component of this state-recognized Career and Technical Education (CTE) program of study. Students from all STA health science pathway classes are encouraged to participate: Pre-allied Health, Pre-Professional Nursing, and Medical Interventions/Biomedical Innovations. Mr. Fred Wilson, the STA Pre-allied Health instructor is the sponsor for this organization.
Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national student organization created to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as business education. TSA aims to develop leadership, academic, and business management skills in the workplace among students and leaders within the community. The organization empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. TSA serves more than 300,000 students and instructors annually. Competitions take place at the local, state, regional and national level. Students from all career pathways are encouraged to participate. Mrs. Emily Hobbs and Mrs. Hope MacKenzie are the sponsors for this organization.
The Educators Rising is a national student organization dedicated to supporting young people interested in education-related careers.
Educators Rising cultivates highly skilled educators by guiding young people on a path to becoming accomplished teachers, beginning in high school and extending through college and into the profession. Educators Rising is transforming how America develops aspiring teachers. Starting with high school students, we provide passionate young people with hands-on teaching experience, sustain their interest in the profession, and help them cultivate the skills they need to be successful educators. The result is a pipeline of accomplished teachers who are positioned to make a lasting difference — not only in the lives of their students, but also in the field of teaching more broadly.
Educators Rising is the co-curricular component of the Pre-Professional Educator Cadet program, which significantly enhances the classroom experience for aspiring educators. Educators Rising is a federally recognized Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) and the co-curricular component of this state-recognized Career and Technical Education (CTE) program of study. Mrs. Kathy Nash, the STA Pre-education Cadet Instructor is the sponsor for this organization.
Other Organizations:
The Summit Technology Academy Student Ambassador Program is a STA student leadership/ mentorship program founded on the guiding principle that students are an invaluable resource to represent and serve our learning organization. The STA Student Ambassador Program was established to recognize and develop outstanding STA students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. STA student ambassadors serve as positive role models and leaders in our academy. Student ambassadors represent STA and the programs they attend in an exemplary fashion. Students who are chosen as STA student ambassadors reflect the mission and vision of STA. In addition, they foster a culture of respect, collaboration and professionalism within the academy and their programs. Student Ambassadors participate in STA Open House Nights, public and school tours, and public forums about STA. Student ambassadors will participate in trainings and public showcase events throughout the school year. Students must apply and be selected to participate in the program. The application process will open the first week of September of each year. Students apply for this program with their STA class instructor.
CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program. CyberPatriot was conceived by the Air Force Association (AFA) to inspire high school students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services. Teams compete for the top placement within their state and region, and the top teams in the nation earn all-expenses paid trips to Washington, DC for the National Finals Competition where they can earn national recognition and scholarship money. Lisa Oyler, Victor Semonok, and Chris Cunningham are the sponsors and coaches for this organization.
Interact is an international organization of service and social clubs for high school students that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship and promotes international understanding and peace. The name “Interact” was created by combining the words “international” and “action.” Interact clubs are sponsored by Rotary clubs as a program of Rotary International. Rotary clubs provide guidance and inspiration, but the Interact clubs are self-governing and self-supporting. The membership base of this club is drawn primarily from the Summit International Studies Academy (SISA). Each year, Interact clubs complete at least one community service project and at least one project that furthers international understanding and goodwill. Interact's five primary avenues of service include the following: community, international, school, environmental, and fundraising. Interactors develop a worldwide network of friendships through exchanges with local and overseas clubs. Along the way, Interactors develop their leadership skills and initiative while meeting new friends. SISA Instructor Mr. Curtis Cook is the sponsor for this organization.
Biodesign Club
Biodesign club challenges students to design a biological solution to a real-world problem. Students apply advanced topics in genetics to design and create their novel biological organism. This club is open for students in the Medical Interventions/Biomedical Innovations program and runs from September to April. Medical Interventions/Biomedical Innovations Instructor Dr. Kevin McCormick is the sponsor for this organization.
The Battle of the Bots Club participates in competitions sponsored by The National Robotics League. The National Robotics League (NRL) is a manufacturing workforce development program of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) and the National Tooling & Machining Foundation (NTMF). The NRL is a job-driven, project-based STEM learning program that energizes students to learn about the manufacturing process and the technical skills needed for the design and fabrication of a 15lb Bot to battle in a gladiator-style competition. The student teams are encouraged to build partnerships with local manufacturing companies and post-secondary institutions during the Bot building process. This provides the students with direct application of classroom concepts to real world manufacturing situations. The NRL endows students with the 21st century skills needed by industry including project and time management, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking. As a result of participation in the NRL program and interactions with industry mentors, students discover the excitement and rewards of a career in manufacturing. Mr. Seth Harper, who teaches Digital Electronics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing is the sponsor for this organization. Students in the engineering and computer science pathway classes are encouraged to participate.