IMAG News

Imag Students Win Animatronics Contest

Imagination, Inc., a career academy based at Lake Region Senior High School is home to one of Florida’s top Technology Student Association (TSA) Chapters. Over the years, Lake Region students have excelled in events such as; Cyberspace Pursuit (website design), Desktop Publishing, Imaging Technology, and Scientific Visualization.

Three years ago the National Curriculum and Competition Committee of TSA authored a new event called Animatronics. Animatronics are a form of robotics with a primary goal of entertainment and instruction. In the early 1950’s Walt Disney got the idea to add life-like movements to 3D figures and Animatronics were born.

In 2007 Lake Region TSA constructed their first Animatronic out of art supplies and LEGO parts, though primitive, they placed 2nd at the Florida TSA State Competition and 1st and the National TSA Competition. The 2008 version placed 1st at the state competition and 2nd at the national competition. With advancements in available materials and some experience, the 2009 addition named “Ben Cruzin’” was constructed. Ben is an animatronic crash test dummy whose primary focus is to educate drivers by providing safety tips. “Ben Cruzin’” was developed and constructed during the 2008-2009-school year by Lake Region TSA members: Sebastian Turley, Janet Tucker, and Davidge Turley.

Lake Region TSA and Imagination, Inc. are under the direction of Lake Region Senior High School instructors, Steven Chayt and Tresa Warner. For more information about TSA visit www.tsaweb.org or www.floridatsa.com. For more information about Imagination, Inc. visit www.imagacademy.org.