VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University’s College of Technology will host the Indiana Region 4 and 5 SkillsUSA contest on Feb. 2.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure that America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel, providing educational programs, events, and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.

More than 280 high school students and guests from southeastern and southwestern Indiana will compete for scholarships and the opportunity to advance to the State Leadership and Skills Conference in Indianapolis on April 19-20. The students will be accompanied by more than 50 school advisors.

VU has hosted the regional competition for more than 20 years as part of its commitment to bringing quality, focused education and opportunities to Indiana students.

The Skills USA organization emphasizes technical skills, leadership, and interpersonal skills training. It also exposes students to various career paths and encourages success in their selected vocations.

Areas of competition include architectural drafting, automotive service, carpentry, CNC milling, CNC turning, collision repair, computer maintenance, diesel, electronics technology, engineering technology, internetworking, masonry, marine service technology, motorcycle service technology, power equipment technology, precision machining, residential wiring, technical drafting, robotics, and welding.

Schools participating from Region 4 include Area 30 Career Center, Heritage Hills High School, Pike Central High School, Princeton Community High School, Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center, Tell City High School, and Terre Haute South Vigo High School. Schools from R 5 include C-4 Columbus North High School, Ivy Tech Community College, North Lawrence Vo Tech Center, Prosser Career Education Center, and Southeastern Career Center.

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. (EST) at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center, with competitions to begin in various campus locations at 9:00 a.m. The contest will conclude with a 2 p.m. luncheon and awards ceremony. VU Provost Dr. Laura Treanor will welcome the participants at the 8:20 a.m. opening and VU President Chuck Johnson will address the contestants and advisors prior to the awards ceremony.

Additional information about Skills USA programs and activities is available at www.skillsusa.org.

VU BRINGS EARLY COLLEGE TO INDIANA HIGH SCHOOLS

VU is Indiana’s leader in Early Colleges, an educational model that brings the college campus into a high school or career and technical center, establishing an environment in which increased collaboration between faculty and staff leads to increased accountability and attention to students.

Through its Career and Technical Early College, VU is working with 15 different Indiana Career Centers and Cooperatives to bring to thousands of Hoosier high school students VU’s high quality college-level education in fields where there is a strong demand in each region. CTE Early College accelerates access to college and career opportunities while saving Hoosier families thousands of dollars.

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VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom Manager
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MARCIA MARTINEZ, University Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
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VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/news/newsroom