DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) -- On Tuesday, March 14, 500 high school students from the Dayton area attended Sinclair Community College's campus in downtown Dayton to compete in the 2023 Tech Prep Showcase.

Through collaboration with their high school and Sinclair's Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium (MVTPC), students from Centerville, Dayton Public Schools, Kettering, Miamisburg, Ohio Hi-Point, Stebbins, Warren County, and Wayne presented projects based on skills and information they have acquired within their career pathway.

The Competitive Group Grand Champion in the 2023 Tech Prep Showcase was Kettering Fairmont High School's Lazy Days Project. The Competitive Group People's Choice award went to MVCTC's Chinchilla Socialization Project.

Tech Prep Showcase projects are featured in one of Ohio’s 15 career pathways and are judged on project research, work-based learning, academic/technical skills, professional networking, and presenting abilities.

The evaluation of each team and the interviews with participating students about the conceptualization and execution of their projects were conducted by more than 100 judges from businesses in the Dayton region.

A team award, as well as individual team member trophies, were given to the winners of the Tech Prep Showcase.

“Sinclair College is proud to present this exciting event that allows Tech Prep students to engage with Dayton region employers, educators, and fellow students to present projects that reflect their hard work and highlight the knowledge and skills they have gained in the classroom,” said Laura Hinkebein, Director of the MVTPC. “Tech Prep aligns with Sinclair’s mission to find the need and endeavor to meet it by preparing students for college and career success.”

MVTPC is a distinctive organization that offers high school students valuable experience in a career/technical field of study while also allowing them to obtain college credits.

To develop seamless career-technical education programs that begin in high school and continue through a post-secondary credential, MVTPC encourages relationships with educators and companies.

Nearly 11,000 career technical students from 20 school districts participate in Sinclair’s Tech Prep program.

The Tech Prep program at Sinclair provides students with a variety of career options, including pathways in the arts and communication, business and administrative services/finance/marketing, engineering and science technologies, construction technologies, health science technologies, hospitality and tourism, information technology, manufacturing technologies, transportation systems, and more.

Visit mvtechprep.org to learn more about the MVTPC.