CPHS Construction Trades students competed at the SkillsUSA Regionals held at the Carpenters Apprentice School in Merrillville on February 10, 2024. Student John Sims competed in the Action Skills category and will be moving on to state! Aidan Slade also represented CPHS, falling short of the state cut-off by only one point. Both students are sophomores and competed against juniors and seniors.

SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. Contestants frame walls using wood and/or steel studs, cut and install rafters, gable end overhangs, fascia board, and soffit installation, install sheathing and/or exterior siding and trim. Contestants are judged on accuracy, ability to read and interpret blueprints, workmanship, safety and the proper use of tools, equipment, and materials.

On the same day, the Crown Point High School Auto Technology students competed in this year's Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Top Tech Challenge at Lisle, Illinois. The students competed in a written test before the top 15 teams were allowed to advance to the hands-on portion of the contest. CPHS had 2 teams of students compete. 

Senior Landon Gust and junior Quinten Osburn placed 9th with the combined written test and hands on competition. The team members both received a $1000.00 scholarship from UTI.

The team of junior Aiden Hunt and junior Ryan Lukas were locked in a 3-way tie for 15th place. UTI gave a secondary test to eliminate 2 of the 3 teams. Although this ended the team’s competition, the students did a great job on the second written test which covered material above and beyond what students reviewed to prepare for the contest.