GETAWAY – Students from 17 schools across southern Ohio will gather at the Collins Career Center on Saturday, March 3, as it hosts the Ohio/SkillsUSA South Central Ohio Regional Competition.

Monday, February 12, 2001

GETAWAY – Students from 17 schools across southern Ohio will gather at the Collins Career Center on Saturday, March 3, as it hosts the Ohio/SkillsUSA South Central Ohio Regional Competition.

Approximately 200 students will compete in 23 contests covering all types of skill areas.

"This is a huge undertaking," said Jim Howard, T&I director at the career center. "This gives our school the opportunity to host as well as show off to those schools participating in this competition what we have to offer."

Winners at the regional level will advance to the state competition, which will be held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds complex the weekend of April 27-28. State winners then advance to the "SkillsUSA" national competition held in Kansas City, Kan., in June.

"This is the biggest event that our school has hosted in several years," Howard said.

Local businesses within Lawrence County will benefit from the students coming to compete.

"Local restaurants and motels will have many of the students and their advisers staying and eating," said Lou Peake, school-community relations director. "In addition to the high school students competing, there will also be an adult division of competition as well."

Awards will be presented at the career center upon the conclusion of all the events.

Schools participating at Collins include Columbus City (Pt. Hayes Career Center, Northeast Career Center; Southeast Career Center, and Northwest Career Center); Eastland JVS; Fairfield; Gallia-Jackson; Lancaster City; Ohio Valley; Pickaway-Ross; Circleville HS; Pike County; Scioto County; Southern Hills; Southwestern City, and U.S. Grant Career Center.

Among the contests being conducted are architectural drafting; basic health care; carpentry; computer maintenance; cosmetology; extemporaneous speaking; first aid/CPR; nurse assisting; residential wiring and welding, to name a few.

Judges for the contests are individuals from the Tri-State area who work in the occupation being judged.