Members of the Temple College SkillsUSA STEM Club celebrate their wins at SkillsUSA Texas Postsec... Members of the Temple College SkillsUSA STEM Club celebrate their wins at SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference April 13-15 in Houston. (Photo courtesy of Temple College SkillsUSA STEM Club)

Members of Temple College’s SkillsUSA STEM Club competed in the SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary State Leadership and Skills Conference (SLSC) April 13-15 in Houston, where they won numerous awards and their advisor, Dr. Sandra Melendez, professor of engineering technology, received the Texas State Advisor of the Year Award.

Club members received Gold Awards for Chapter Display, Additive Manufacturing, Quiz Bowl, Architectural Drafting, and Engineering Technology Design. They won Silver Awards for Community Service and Robotics Urban Search and Rescue. They were also named a Quality Chapter and received Bronze Chapter of Excellence Award.

Melendez, who leads Temple College’s Department of Engineering and Technology, said she was proud of the students and their drive to compete at the highest levels.

“Our students are amazing. They work so hard each year to compete well at the state and national levels, and their successes are a testament to their innovation and the training they receive at Temple College,” Melendez said. “It’s my joy to serve as their advisor and to champion their work. I’m honored to be recognized for something I love to do.”

State competition projects included:

  • Architectural Drafting – Student Donald Mitchell completed an onsite competition, where he designed and created a building with Revit, a modeling software tool.
  • Robotic Urban Search and Rescue – Students Dylan Magnia and Joseph Leslie designed and built a robot with the objective to move an explosive device from a mailbox.
  • Community Service – Club president Adrianna Rogers, along with Thomas Clawson and Tobias Tait, designed and created a robot for the Belton Early Childhood School.
  • Chapter Display – Mitchell, Leslie and Ben Cameron presented the chapter display that was designed by Club members.
  • Quiz Bowl – Rogers, Clawson, Tait, Cameron and Trio Jimenez teamed to participate in the Jeopardy-like competition.
  • Additive Manufacturing – Cameron and Jimenez designed a jar opener with interactive components.
  • Engineering Technology Design - Rogers, Clawson and Tait designed and created a device that holds a virtual reality (VR) headset for VR developers.

Preparing for National Competition

Following their wins at the state level, Club members are now preparing to compete at the National Leadership and Skills Conference June 19-23 in Atlanta. The Club is currently raising funds for the trip.

Last year, the Club won the Gold Medal in Engineering Technology Design. This year, the Club will compete in three areas: Engineering Technology Design, Additive Manufacturing, and Architectural Drafting.

Competition includes onsite challenges and testing.

“I couldn’t be prouder of all the STEM club members, and we are so excited to be able to represent Temple College and the state of Texas at Nationals this year,” said Adrianna Rogers, engineering technology student and Club president.

Engineering Technology at Temple College

The Department of Engineering Technology offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Drafting/Design Engineering Technology; Associate of Science in Engineering Technology; and an Associate of Applied Science in Electromechanical Engineering Technology.

The department also offers multiple certificate programs that prepare students for entry-level support positions with building contractors, architectural engineers and mechanical engineering firms.

The Engineering Technology Lab has state-of-the-art technology, including 3D mice, 3D printers, plot printers, Alienware, and Oculus Quest rendering virtual and augmented reality. Software applications include Autodesk, REVIT, CAD, CIVIL3D, BIM 360, Map, Enscape and Unity.

Dual credit classes in engineering technology are offered in the fall at the College’s Temple, Hutto and Taylor campuses.

For more information about Temple College engineering technology programs or the SkillsUSA STEM Club, contact Dr. Sandra Melendez at Sandra.Melendez@templejc.edu or call 254-298-8442.

ABOUT TEMPLE COLLEGE

Temple College is “Your Community’s College,” a dynamic and growing community college that equips thousands of Central Texas students with the knowledge and skills for 21st-century success. Temple College, which has campuses in Temple, Hutto and Taylor, offers more than 75 degree and certificate programs to students who seek to earn credits for transfer, graduate with an associate degree, or complete a certificate for fast entry into the workforce.

Founded in 1926, Temple College has enjoyed a reputation for academic excellence for 97 years. It is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs, from visual and performing arts to competitive athletics. The College has become one of the state’s premiere institutions for healthcare providers’ education and training, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development programs. The faculty and staff are committed to providing exceptional quality instruction.