“EARLY COLLEGE CONNECTIONS” EVENTS
Invitations to a series of “Early College Connections” events have been distributed to nearly 3000 parents of tenth grade students who have expressed interest in a tech prep pathway beginning next fall at their local high school or career center. The events, to be held throughout February on both the main Sinclair campus in Dayton and Courseview campus in Mason, are designed to provide parents detailed information on the benefits of the tech prep college connection with Sinclair, including scholarships, early college credits and employment forecasts for the various tech prep pathways. Go here for dates, locations, agendas and RSVP procedures. Contact Bob Sheehan for additional information.

2008 “SHOWCASE” SETS ALL TIME RECORD
90 teams representing nearly 350 high school tech prep students have registered for the February 22 Miami Valley Tech Prep Showcase, setting an all time record for participation in the annual competition. The Showcase, now in its 11th year, provides an opportunity for tech prep students to demonstrate technical, academic and employability skills through team projects that are judged by business and industry volunteers. Winning and runner-up teams within each of the consortium’s twelve tech prep pathway categories will be recognized, along with their teachers, at a special awards luncheon at Sinclair on April 24. The February 22nd Showcase is open to the public from 9:00 am thru 12:00 noon in Building 12 (Sinclair Center). Contact Dave McDaniel for more information.

TECH PREP CONSTRUCTION SENIORS TO TACKLE REAL-WORLD PROJECT
On February 12, nearly 60 MVTPC construction pathway seniors will be joined by business representatives and Sinclair faculty for a unique construction design and project management challenge. The challenge, to be held at Sinclair, will task student teams with designing, cost estimating and scheduling the construction of a medical office building and a fast food restaurant. Student teams will work directly with industry and faculty who will advise and critique their work. Contact Meg Draeger for more information.

2008-09 TECH PREP SITE EXPANSIONS
Requests for 24 tech prep site expansions in 2008-09 are currently being processed by the MVTPC office. In addition to expansion of existing pathways into new sites, two pathways new to the consortium – hospitality management/culinary arts and technical theater – will commence at multiple sites next fall.

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS!
Congratulations to students of the Construction Challenge Team at Miami Valley Career Technology Center who are advancing from the Regional Construction Challenge in Cincinnati last January 12 to the International Construction Challenge Finals in Las Vegas on March 10-14. Team advisors are MVCTC Heavy Equipment Program instructor Ron Kauffman and T&I Supervisor for Building Trades Programs Dale Winner. Good luck to the students and advisors!