SAN JOSE, Calif. - SkillsUSA named 15 Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) students gold medal winners at its regional competition held in Salinas, Calif.

Nine other students from CCOC took home the silver. Out of 32 CCOC high school and adult students who competed in the regional competition, 19 students will advance to represent CCOC in the SkillsUSA-VICA state competition in Riverside, Calif., April 19-22.

Students competed in hands-on and demonstration competitions in the fields of air conditioning, automotive service, CAD drafting, collision repair, diesel, precision machine, welding, extemporaneous speech, and job skill demonstration.

SkillsUSA is a national organization for career-technical education students within trade, technical, industrial, and health occupations. Annual competitions are held to encourage students to challenge themselves within their chosen technical careers.

CCOC provides career-technical education for high school students in six districts: Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Milpitas Unified School District, San Jose Unified School District, and Santa Clara Unified School District. Students attend CCOC for half of their school day and the other half they attend their home high school.

Publication date: 03/19/2007