NCCC to host 10th Tech Wars

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, December 28, 2006

Fourteen Western New York school districts will take part in the 10th annual Tech Wars to be held Wednesday, Jan. 10, at Niagara County Community College.

More than 540 students will take part in a creative and academically based technology competition in the college’s main gymnasium beginning at 9 a.m.

Students in local schools design and build robots, cars and other technology-based projects that they enter into a wide variety of competitions against other schools and students.

Tech Wars began in 1997 as a way to bring students together to engage in friendly academic competitions. Their designs, ideas and strategies help them relate real world applications to their learning.

Taking part in this year’s competition are students from Barker, Buffalo Academy of Science, Cheektowaga, Cleveland Hill, Lewiston-Porter, Lockport, Newfane, Niagara-Wheatfield, North Tonawanda, Starpoint, Sweet Home, Tonawanda, Warsaw and Wilson High Schools.

Tech Wars is supported by NCCCs Tech Prep Constortium, New York State and Western New York Technology Teachers Association and a variety of local business and community partners. Coordinating this year’s event are Fred Nash of Barker High School and Dr. John Craig of NCCC.

The Christopher D’Angelis Memorial Senior Scholarship is being offered for the first time this year through the Tech Wars Program Committee. The scholarship is available to a high school technology senior who participates in Tech Wars 2007.

Christopher D’Angelis, for whom the scholarship is named, was a senior from Lewiston-Porter High School participating in the ninth annual Tech Wars competition on Jan. 11, 2006. Driving home from Lew-Port after the competition, he was tragically involved in a car accident that claimed his life.

He was active in his local volunteer fire department and in community activities. The scholarship recognizes the values of D’Angelis’ life.

For more information on the scholarship, contact Dr. John Craig at NCCC at 614-6295 or jcraig@niagaracc.suny.edu.