As elected TSA state reporter, Taylor Kohnow will provide outreach to more than 11,000 technology students across the state
Taylor Kohnow has always had a passion for invention, so when she made the decision to join Clearview Regional High School’s Technology Student Association three years ago, her love and exploration of all things engineering blossomed. This year, the senior was elected as the New Jersey TSA state reporter, providing her the opportunity to lead more than 11,000 students throughout the state as one of the association’s six state officers.
TSA is a national association with chapters established in approximately 2,000 middle and high schools across the country. In New Jersey, there are more than 100 high schools and middle schools that participate, with more than 10,000 members, promoting the need for a “technologically literate society” by pursuing the study of science, technology, engineering and math beyond the classroom. According to Kohnow, Clearview’s TSA chapter is comprised of close to 70 to 100 members.
The organization is open to students who have enrolled or completed technology education courses, and offers leadership opportunities, as well as competitions and conferences at both state and national levels. According to the Clearview website, www.clearviewregional.edu, the school’s chapter holds more than 12 national titles and more than 60 state titles.
“I think competing and putting the time and effort into something is really rewarding at these competitions, and it’s helped me so much for my career path,” Kohnow said. “I want everyone to experience what I have and hopefully that will help them in the future.”
Kohnow was elected as the state reporter after submitting a video campaign, alongside opposing candidates, to all of the state’s school chapters, who then voted on whom to elect. As Clearview’s reporter in prior years, Kohnow was responsible for program outreach, as well as communications to inform students of upcoming meetings and deadlines. This year, as an elected state officer, Kohnow will be performing the same duties, but to all TSA chapters and students throughout New Jersey.
Kohnow will participate in the leadership conference where she will educate fellow reporters at the school level on best practices of reaching the student body. Other responsibilities, according to the state TSA website, www.njtsa.tcnj.edu, include serving as the editor for the state TSA newsletter “The New Jersey Beacon,” preparing articles for publication, acting as historian of the association, as well as assisting in the organization of the association’s exhibits.
“I’m in love with TSA so I really wanted to get as many people involved, and let as many people know about this club as possible,” Kohnow said of why she ran for the state officer position. “I thought I could do that better at the state level.”
In the spring of her sophomore year, Kohnow had the opportunity to compete at the national level after placing fourth at the state TSA competition for her authored children’s story on technology. Last year, she competed at states in the engineering competition, where she and her peers were given the theme of “water purification,” and invented a valve that would connect to a home water pipe, read the water’s chemical levels and notify the homeowner if they needed to contact assistance.
“I really like the idea of taking something and making it better, or inventing new things,” Kohnow said. “If I had never joined TSA, I would have never been so interested in water purification and I wouldn’t have taken robotics, and that’s something I’m now really passionate about.”
Kohnow said during her time at Clearview, she has enrolled in computer-aided design classes, along with engineering and robotics, where she has learned to model creations on the computer, research inventions and develop prototypes. This year, she said, she may participate in the VEX Robotics competition at TSA to expand her experiences before graduating.
“TSA made my high school experience even better,” Kohnow said. “I made so many friends, we’re like a family, and I was able to do so much because of it.”
