His dream job: Designing aircraft

EVERETT — Summer is here, but Anthony Espinosa, 13, hasn’t given up his studies. As an Evergreen Middle School student, he qualified for the national Technology Student Association competition that was held in Atlanta at the end of June. Espinosa was part of a team that took home third place in the electrical applications competition and qualified for the final round in the STEM animation category.

Espinosa is preparing for his freshman year at Cascade High School.

Question: What got you interested in technology?

Answer: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved astronomy, and it’s related to technology so it grew on me.

Q: What is the Technology Student Association?

A: TSA is basically an organization for students in high school and middle school who want to be in a club that involves technology and preparing for competitions related to technology.

Q: How does the national competition work?

A: Finalists from their state competitions come to compete in the national competition. You have three rounds … In the finals, the top 10 from the semi-final round compete. Each competition varies depending on the category.

Q: How does the competition for the electrical applications category work?

A: In the preliminary round, you take a test and you submit a LEAP response, which is basically an explanation on how you used leadership skills while preparing for the competition and on a day-to day basis. And you have to take a test on electrical theory and how circuits work.

Whatever team has the best average test score will end up getting into the semi-final round — where teams construct a circuit and then analyze the circuit.

Q: How do you analyze the circuit?

A: You use a digital multimeter to get certain values and record them. Then you might have to do some calculations. You want to know how accurate your circuit is.

Q: How did you prepare?

A: We had to study a lot … about how circuits work, and electrical theories such as Ohm’s law. We also had to look at how different electrical components work, because we were going to use those in the circuit.

Q: How does the competition work for STEM Animation?

A: You work with your team to create an animation and portfolio for it. This animation is supposed to explain a scientific subject. Teams come to the competition with the animation completed. You also have to do an interview with the judges.

Q: What did your team explain?

A: We were on the subject of the ozone layer and ozone depletion … using little animations that are good for the younger demographic; colorful and cartoony.

Q: Do you participate in any other activities related to environmentalism?

A: I go out with Forterra to do environmental restoration work at parks and other natural areas. We do things such as removing native plants, mostly blackberries, and mulching so new things can be planted. I also help coordinate the cleanup events for Forterra. I do this because I am in a club at my school, National Junior Honor Society, where you have to meet certain standards to stay in the club, including volunteering.

Q: Why did you choose environmental restoration?

A: Because you get to learn about nature and your community. And you also get to be outside.

Q: What’s one of your favorite projects you worked on?

A: Japanese Gulch, because we got to explore the entire grounds.

Q: Do you have a dream job?

A: Aerospace engineer, designing aircraft.

Q: What else do you do in your spare time?

A: I play the violin and trumpet. And I ran cross-country in middle school.

Q: Are there any other Technology Student Association categories you want to try in high school?

A: Yeah, because they have whole different set of categories for high schoolers. I might take something like mechanical engineering.

Q: Any plans for the summer?

A: Not many, studying for an Advanced Placement environmental science class. And reading the novel I need to read to get into English II.