This content was published: March 27, 1997. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Oregon High School and Community College Students Compete at PCC
Photos and story by Mark Evertz
Students from across the state build cabinets from a plan they’ve never seen, or they‘re given a fender full of dents to make smooth, or they might have to trouble shoot and repair a diesel engine. All will be part of a statewide competition held at PCC campuses April 11 and 12 as hundreds of high school and community college students compete for a spot at the nationals in June.
Portland Community College hosts the state Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) competition at its campuses this April where hundreds of high school and community college students show off their expertise in nearly 40 vocational trades.
"They’re the cream of the crop," says Spencer Hinkle, Building Construction Technology department chair and coordinator of the event. "Students from vocational programs across the state have been preparing all year for this event."
The dates are set for Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12. Events are planned at all three campuses: Rock Creek, 17705 N.W. Springville Road; Sylvania, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave; and Cascade, 705 N. Killingsworth. Students will compete in events designed to show skill, knowledge and speed in a variety of subject areas, including carpentry, welding, auto body repair, automotive, mechanical and AutoCAD drafting, diesel, and others. The majority of the events are scheduled at Rock Creek and Sylvania campuses.
Many industry partners serve as judges and have also donated prizes and materials for the competition. Contributors include Neil Kelly Remodelers and Designers, the Dewalt Power Tool Co., Halton Caterpillar, N.W. Natural Gas, Iron Tech and approximately 50 others.
Winners from this competition go on to a national competition in Kansas City this June.
The competition begins at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. An awards ceremony will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. p.m. on Saturday at the Sylvania Campus Performing Arts Center for the high school division, and in the Pioneer Room of Building 3 at the Rock Creek Campus for the community college division.
In conjunction with the VICA competition, electric car races will be held in Sylvania Campus parking lots on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The race is presented by the Electric Car Association and sponsored by PGE.
For more information, please contact Spencer Hinkle at the Rock Creek Campus, 614-7405.