The Oswego Technology Student Association (OTSA) delivered a phenomenal performance at this year’s ​Technology and ​Engineering ​Education​ Collegiate ​Association (TEECA) East Conference, earning top awards across multiple events. 

The Oswego team went into nine competitions and placed in eight out of the nine. Oswego placed first in five competitions, which is the most top finishes they have ever achieved, OTSA President Reese Miller said. 

The TEECA East Conference hosts a wide of higher education institutions around the region to compete amongst each other in a variety of different types of awards. SUNY Oswego is the only SUNY school that currently attends.

This year’s TEECA Conference was extremely successful for the Oswego team for multiple reasons. 

“This is also the most students we've ever brought in,” Miller said. “Twenty-five students, two of which are student teaching right now.”

While most members are technology education majors, any student from Oswego can join. “We are open to any type of student, anyone who's interested in technology in general,” Miller said.

This year, three members of Oswego’s team came from majors outside of technology education. Because TEECA events range from manufacturing and robotics to poster design, communications and more, students can choose a competition that fits both their interests and their schedules.

OTSA Vice President Ryan Hoffman said this flexibility allows more students to attend. “Every competition is different with the prep work,” Hoffman said. “If you have a really busy semester and you're still interested in going, it’s totally possible.”

One of the most impressive accomplishments of the weekend came in the Manufacturing competition. The event requires extensive preparation before the conference and intense hands-on work once the competition begins.

Manufacturing team member Ryan Van Steekelenburg explained that students must produce a complete product from raw materials while judges observe every step. This year’s team produced the classic game Shut the Box.

Despite a slower start compared to other teams, Oswego surged ahead and finished first. They produced 14 completed games instead of the required 12, and finished with 20 minutes remaining. Their documentation alone reached more than 100 pages.

Preparation and teamwork

Hoffman said the group’s preparation and teamwork were key factors in the win. The Manufacturing event is known for being one of the most demanding competitions, combining planning, precision, creativity and time management.

Another standout achievement came from the poster competition, where Miller and Cristianna Fallacaro presented a technologically enhanced display focused on integrating artificial intelligence into classroom design instruction. 

Miller noted that the poster had to be visually appealing –- not just something like a traditional trifold board poster. The students used an acrylic AI technique coupled with a light-up board to help stand out.

Their accompanying lesson plan encouraged students to use AI to support ideation to form concepts, “using it to ideate ideas instead of just using it to come up with their ideas,” Miller said.

While competition is central to the conference, students spoke just as highly about the team-building and camaraderie. The group participated in trivia-based mixers and an arcade night with five colleges.

Faculty mentors Richard Bush, Karin Dykeman and Tyler Morris also attended and were a huge support for the students competing.

“Our professors were really kind of rooting for us, and it was obvious that a lot of Oswego pride was shown there,” Van Steekelenburg.

This is Miller and Hoffman’s first year on OTSA’s e-board and their goal was to bring everyone together. “This trip we did like the most amount of stuff as a club as a whole,” Miller said. “I think we were the top school for pride and cheering each other on.”

For many seniors, this final TEECA East Conference felt like a culmination of their years in the program. Van Steekelenburg said the team entered with confidence and purpose: “We wanted to make a statement. We wanted to really show what we're worth.”

With record participation, multiple top placements and strong momentum heading into the national International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) conference this spring, SUNY Oswego’s OTSA continues to prove Oswego’s technology education program as a leading program on the East Coast.

-- Written by Natalie Glosek of the Class of 2026