Most of us remember that classic back-to-school assignment - “what I did on my summer vacation.”

Sometimes it was written. Other times students were required to get up in front of the class and tell their classmates about their vacations, pool parties, summer camps and various other summer time activities.

Rarely is it that a student can tell classmates that he was elected national president of one of the largest student organizations in the country.

But that is exactly the story that Zachary Barnes, a senior in the School of Math, Science and Technology at Scotland High gets to tell his classmates as they return to school.

Barnes was elected president of the Technology Students Association at its National Convention in Baltimore, Md. last month.

It is Barnes’ second national office. He was the elected National Treasurer at the 2009 convention in Denver, Co. Throughout the course of his middle and high school career he has also held the office of state representative, reporter and vice president for the North Carolina TSA chapter.

“TSA is something that I am very passionate about,” said Barnes, the son of Leon and Debbie Barnes, upon his return to school. “The organization provides students with numerous leadership and networking opportunities and allows students the ability to use what they have learned through their classes and local chapter to compete against students regionally, state-wide and nationally.”

Barnes was elected by his peers in Baltimore on platform based on helping the organization move forward to provide more opportunities for students.

“Over the next year, I really want to make TSA a better organization,” Barnes said. “We are going to work on improving communication among chapters and within the organization and work to promote TSA and its programs on a national level.”

“We are so proud of Zachary and his accomplishments, not just with TSA,” said Scotland High School of Math, Science and Technology (MST) Principal Dr. Mark Duckworth. “He has done a wonderful job of representing MST and Scotland County.”

Upon graduation, Barnes plans to attend a four-year college to major in political science and religion with the hope of one day earning a Ph.D. In theology.

The Technology Student Association (TSA) is the only student organization devoted exclusively to the needs of students interested in technology.

Open to students enrolled in or who have completed technology education courses, TSA’s membership includes over 150,000 middle and high school students in 2,000 schools spanning 48 states. TSA is supported by educators, parents and business leaders who believe in the need for a technologically literate society. Members learn through exciting competitive events, leadership opportunities and much more. The diversity of activities makes TSA a positive experience for every student. From engineers to business managers, alumni credit TSA with a positive influence on their lives.