MEDIA ADVISORY: Meet Kentucky’s future tech leaders at KYTSA State Conference on March 17

What: See what Kentucky’s cutting-edge students can create at the 2026 Kentucky Technology Student Association State Conference.

The Kentucky Technology Student Association (KYTSA) is also the only approved career and technology student organization aligned to Engineering, IT, Computer Science and other STEM program of studies. KYTSA students learn what it takes to succeed in the career world and are exposed to employability skills needed in the workforce.

Come talk to students and you will have access to film these events:

• Board Game Design Challenge

Students design, build and package an original board game around a topic of their choice. Projects are evaluated on creativity, packaging, instructions and gameplay mechanics.

Semifinalists set up their games and demonstrate them to judges while explaining their design process and the technology behind the project.

• Drone Challenge (UAV Competition)

Students engineer and pilot custom unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through a mission-based course that tests maneuverability, navigation and precision piloting. Teams have 10 minutes to complete tasks such as dropping payloads onto targets, retrieving objects and identifying hidden targets using onboard cameras.

• Fashion Design

Teams design and construct a wearable garment while applying principles of fashion design and engineering. The 2026 theme, “Villain Era,” requires one element of the garment to be 3-D printed. Semifinalist teams present their designs on live models, explain the design process and answer questions from judges.

• Animatronics Challenge

Students build animatronic displays that combine mechanical systems, electronics, programming, lighting and sound. This year’s theme, “Time Travelers’ Museum,” challenges teams to recreate a moment from American history using an animatronic character that comes to life to teach children about the past.

• PVC Kayak Engineering Competition (Offsite footage will be available from KDE upon request)

Students design and build full-size kayaks made from PVC pipe, then race them in a pool. Teams are evaluated on engineering design, construction quality and racing performance.

When: 10 a.m.-noon ET on Tuesday, March 17

Where: Louisville Marriott Downtown, 280 W Jefferson Street, Louisville

PLEASE NOTE: Members of the press are asked to sign in at the registration tables and ask for Jennifer Ginn.