High school students, representing six career and technical education centers and two high schools, gathered for the regional Skills USA Welding competition on February 19 at Kalamazoo College.

Marie Anderson, a senior in Mason Public Schools, attends the Capital Area Career Center to take control of her life after high school. Marie is in the Medical Technology Careers program and plans to be a doctor. She is learning many aspects of the medical field while still in high school and expects to be a certified phlebotomist when the program is over to help pay for college.

On January 15 at Baker College in Owosso, students from Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Livingston and Shiawassee counties gathered for the Region 9 Business Professionals of America (BPA) student competition. The Career Center showed outstanding results with 83% of students placing in the top ten and 71% placing in the top five.

Middle and high school students...are you interested in starting your own business or sharing your concepts? Turn your dreams into reality by entering IGNITE's Youth Business Plan competition and becoming eligible for cash prizes to help launch your business. Teachers...there are prize opportunities for you too.

The State Superintendent visits with students at the Capital Area Career Center, with parents of children in the ISD's early childhood, career and technical education, and special education programs, with teachers and specialists, and with superintendents and board members on January 14. The Superintendent also toured the Career Center.