Menu
Area 30 student to compete at national Skills USA conference
Area 30 Career Center students recently participated in the Skills USA Indiana State Championship competition, with a Law Enforcement student going on to compete in the Skills USA National Conference in Kansas City in June.
The Skills USA Championships, held in Indianapolis, was a showcase of career and technical education students where more than 600 outstanding career and technical education students -- all state regional contest winners -- competed hands-on in 80 different trade, technical and leadership fields.
Area 30 student Tommy Suddarth of North Putnam High School won the competition in Criminal Justice. Eighteen-year-old Suddarth is a two-year completer of the Law Enforcement program at Area 30. He is the son of Jerry Suddarth of Heritage Lake and Rachel (J.C.) Mandeville of Roachdale.
"We are very proud of Tommy's accomplishments," said Area 30 Law Enforcement Instructor and Skills USA advisor Charles Inman. "We had four Law Enforcement students representing Area 30 in state competition this year. These students included Dallas Bond (SPHS), Annie Burdine (NPHS) and Monica Downing (GHS), along with Suddarth. Each of them are true champions, dedicated to excellence in their selected career field. Their leadership skills are outstanding."
In preparation for the Skills USA competition, students completed after hours training in various law enforcement related areas, including report writing, fingerprinting, physical tactics, conducting safe traffic stops, interview techniques and many more.
"Each of the students have spent hours in a patrol car, conducting ride alongs and job shadows with various police agencies such as the Greencastle Police Department, Hendricks County Sheriff's Department and even the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department," Inman explained. "The support for the Law Enforcement program at Area 30 has been phenomenal. Our vision statement at Area 30 is "Explore Opportunities, Experience Excellence, Realize Potential." Tommy, Dallas, Monica and Annie truly exemplify this vision."
During the state competition Skills USA students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations like law enforcement, emergency medical tech, electronics, automotive services, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting and culinary arts.
All contests were run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations. Test competencies are set by industry. For example, the criminal justice competition was conducted under the leadership and guidance of experienced police officers and administrators of the Cumberland Police Department.
Top student winners in each division received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trade and/or significant scholarships to further their careers and education.
Suddarth was awarded a pair of significant scholarship(s), one from Ivy Tech Community College and another from Sullivan University.
"Area 30 Law Enforcement students have placed first in the SkillsUSA competition three out of the last four years, solidifying ourselves as the premiere Criminal Justice education program in the State of Indiana," Inman noted.
For more information on the Law Enforcement program and many others offered at Area 30 Career Center, call 653-3515 or find them on the web at www.area30.k12.in.us