What is the AVC ?

Vo c at i o n a l U p dat e

Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) provides hands-on training in a variety of professional fields. Instructors have real world work experience in their areas of expertise. The environment simulates a real work environment where students can gain the skills necessary to be successful in college, trade school, the military, and the work force. Senior and Junior students from Collinsville, Mascoutah, and Madison school districts attend classes for two and a half hours each day. The extended time frame allows instructors to immerse students in simulated employment situations. Students not only learn step-bystep procedures associated with their field, they also learn to work together, collaborate, and problem solve. In addition to advanced curriculum, qualified instructors, and a dynamic environment, many students have the opportunity to earn college credit from Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC). These credits are free and available as part of the students enrollment in many of our CAVC classes. Most of the credits are transferrable to other educational institutions and can save families thousands of dollars!

Collinsville ARea Vocational Center

AVC Outstanding Students of the Year

Kenny EnglingAuto Mechanics Mayci MillerChild and Day Care Services Hannah MarchbanksClinical Health Occupations Katherine HubbardCriminal Justice Michael GarciaPrecision Machining Nick MasonWelding Other Programs include Web and Graphic Design, Food Services, Collision Repair, and Electronics

National Technical honor Society

2012-13 Members
Mayci Miller Katherine Hubbard Katie Nagle Mick Straub

Mission: To honor student achievement and leadership,

promote educational excellence, award scholarships, and enhance career opportunities for the NTHS membership.

Vision: To be the international leader in providing recognition for excellence in career and technical education.

Committed To:

Providing the highest quality recognition for outstanding students in career and technical education, Supplying excellent services to our diverse and multi-cultural membership and member schools, Providing scholarship opportunities for its members,

Creating new and emerging relationships between the educational community and business and industry, Being a flexible organization on the leading edge of technology and constantly responding to change,

Maintaining financial responsibility to meet our increasing needs, Sustaining growth, innovation and continuous improvement based upon ongoing evaluation.

CAVC Preschool Openings

AVC Preschool has openings for children ages 3-5-years-old. For more than 20 years, the AVC Preschool has been helping children prepare for Kindergarten in the unique preschool setting. While high school students are enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program, they are putting the skills they are gaining in the classroom to work by providing appropriate hands-on lessons and activities for the children enrolled. Due to this distinctive set up, preschool students are given individual attention from the high school students, as well as, the two certified instructors on a daily basis. Preschool sessions are offered on Tues/Wed/Thurs from 9:15-11:15 and on Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri from 11:45-1:45. The cost is $50.00 per semester beginning on Sept. 10. Please call 618/346-6320 ext. 1226 for more information or if you are interested in enrollment.

CAVC Students Past and Present Top in the Nation at Skills Competition
Two Collinsville Vocational Center machining students and three graduates now attending SWIC for machining attended the Skills USA 49th National Leadership and Skills Conference in June. During their week long stay in Kansas City, these students competed with over 10,000 high school and college students from across the nation in 98 occupational and leadership skill areas. Skills USA programs help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the classroom. Skills USA helps students discover and grow their career passions. As a nationwide partnership of students, instructors, and industry working together, Skills USA works to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Skills USA programs teach leadership, citizenship, and character development to complement technical skill training. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety. In efforts to drive home the importance of having a skill, Mike Rowe from Dirtiest Jobs was the keynote speaker at this year's conference. In order to qualify for this National Conference students must score in the top percentage within the state on a written exam covering information from their skill. Once they pass this portion in February, students attend the state conference in April for the hands on portion of the contest. Skills USA requires students to have the academic ability, as well as perform the skill. Not only did these students place in the top 3 of their written exams out of students across the state who tested, they all earned gold medals at the state conference as first in the state in their contests. This is a huge accomplishment beating out the Chicago area schools who are known for their strong programs. See below what they competed in and their placements at the National Conference.

Cody Coffin 1st in the nation!

Ryan Brunton (Jr. at CHS) competed in Precision Machining-11th in the nation Michael Garcia (Sr. at CHS) competed in CNC Milling- 10th in the nation **Cody Coffin (graduate of CHS, currently attending SWIC under Mark Bosworth) competed in Post Secondary Precision Machining-GOLD...first in the nation earning an opportunity to compete at the World Conference!! Michael Campbell (graduate of CHS, currently attending SWIC under Mark Bosworth) competed in Post Secondary CNC Turning-BRONZE...third in the nation! Jacob Sams (graduate of CHS, currently attending SWIC under Mark Bosworth) competed in Post Secondary CNC Milling- 10th in the nation.

All of these young men were students of Collinsville Area Vocational Center's Machining instructor, Justin Cann who attended the conference during the competition portion and repeatedly reported his pride in their work.
Michael Garcia, Jacob Sams, Michael Campbell, Ryan Brunton with SKILLS sponsor Shawn Geppert