Carl Perkins Entitlements  
High schools that participate in the Southwest Minnesota Carl Perkins Consortium receive an annual entitlement to be used for improvement of state approved career and technical programs.   Participating high schools complete a brief application that specifies the approved programs that will be making the purchase and a description of how students will benefit from the expenditure.  Schools place orders for the purchase and the bill is paid directly by the SW/WC Service Cooperatives, the consortium’s fiscal host.  Examples of purchases that approved programs have made in the past include:  Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) site license, Career Winds site license, career planning resources, new text books that links to industry standards, consulting services, mileage and sub fee reimbursement for Project Discovery, staff development expenses, commercial grade equipment, student organization competition costs, industry based software, instructional videos, etc.  Go to the TechPrep/Carl Perkins link or contact Tom Hoff at 507-537-2271 or tom.hoff@swsc.org  for more information.

Cooperative Purchasing Program
The Cooperative Purchasing Program engages in quantity purchasing to obtain competitive pricing on curriculum, supplies and equipment used by members.  The SW/WC Service Cooperatives partners with companies to provide members assured quality, service, support, and competitive pricing.  These partnerships also offer year round direct-ship programs, easy ordering, sales representation, support and new product introductions, and seminars.  The range of savings through Cooperative Purchasing ranges from 10% to 70%.   Go to the Cooperative Purchasing page or contact purchasing staff at 507-537-2279 or debra.foley@swsc.org   for more information about partnering companies and current promotions.

Day of Excellence Conference
The “Day of Excellence” is an annual special education conference sponsored by the SW/WC Service Cooperatives’ Regional Special Needs Project.  General sessions, vendor and agency exhibits are targeted for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, parents, and agency staff.  The event is held on the second Monday of March and includes such topics as: Transition Planning, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Learning Styles, Assistive Technology, Behavior Management, Instructional Techniques, and more.  For more information about “Day of Excellence” contact Regional Special Needs Project staff at 507-537-2253 or deecy.jesse@swsc.org 

High Tech Trainer Loan Project
Minnesota West Community and Technical College and the SW Minnesota Tech Prep/Carl Perkins Consortiums provide high tech instructional trainers to schools and businesses in the region.  Pneumatic, Hydraulic, Programmable Logic Controls, and Electronic trainers are available free to high school instructors (and to industry as a component of credit-based and customized courses).  College staff are available to work with the high school instructors and students to implement the trainers into their curriculum.  For more information contact Duane Olson or Jim Fischer at 800-657-3247.   

Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement serves approximately 5.2 million students worldwide.  Through age-appropriate curricula, Junior Achievement programs begin at the elementary school level, teaching children how they can impact the world around them as individuals, workers and consumers.  Junior Achievement programs continue through the middle and high school grades, preparing students for future economic and workforce issues they'll face.  It is a movement that seeks to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve quality of their lives.  All this is done with the help of business volunteers from the local community.  A Corporate Sponsorship Advisory Committee has been formed to expand the Junior Achievement program in southwest Minnesota.   To learn more about Junior Achievement contact Joyce Jacobs at 507-372-2919 or email her at joyce@jaum.org - visit the Junior Achievement web site: www.ja.org  

Tech Prep College Credit Certificates Project
Tech Prep College Credit Certificates are presented to high school juniors and seniors who have successfully met the requirements of a college course while in high school.  High school and college instructors meet and review their curriculum every two years to determine which college course requirements could be completed through an existing high school class (or classes).  Once the appropriate college courses are identified high school principals and college presidents sign an "Articulation Agreement" that indicates they understand and will follow the guidelines set forth in the formal contract.  Students or schools do not pay college tuition for Tech Prep College Credit Certificates.  The certificates are generally for entry-level college courses.  The student would not have to take the course in college if they successfully completed the requirements while in high school.  Go to the "On-line Tech Prep College Credit Certificates Project"  page for a list of courses that offer Tech Prep College Credit Certificates.

Technical Skills Challenge Competition
This annual competition involves several technical skill areas and is sponsored by the SW Minnesota Secondary and Post-Secondary Carl Perkins projects and the SW Minnesota Tech Prep Consortium.  Each September, schools receive competition criteria and registration materials explaining which competition areas will be included that particular school year.  (Examples of some competition areas are fluid power, auto repair, web page development, computer-aided drafting and design, among others).  Participants compete as individuals or teams, depending on the competition.  Instructors from post-secondary training programs at Minnesota West Community and Technical College and Southwest Minnesota State University will develop each challenge, and industry representatives will be involved in the judging and awards process.  Due to potential size of some competition areas, preliminary levels of competition may be established with recognition for varying levels of achievement.  Finalists would then attend a final on-site competition event, to be held at a different location in the region each year.  For more information contact Mary Lou Blasing at 507-537-2273 or marylou.blasing@swsc.org

Culinary Skills Challenge

This competition is an annual event open to students in grades 9-12 who are interested in culinary careers and activities.  The SW MN Carl Perkins projects and SW MN Tech Prep Consortium, along with Southwest Minnesota State University, the Schwan Food Company and various other sponsors, hold the event each year in late March or early April at SMSU in Marshall.  Competition areas include cooking, cake decorating, garnishing, menu design, place setting and more.  Seminars are also held during the day on culinary-related topics.  Chefs from the Schwan Food Company, Southwest Minnesota extension educators, job counselors and others are among the competition designers and seminar presenters.  Students receive awards for their performance in the competitions.  Information and photos on previous year events as well as the date set for this year's competition, can be obtained by clicking on the Culinary Skills Challenge logo on the home page for this website.
Registration materials are available by early October each year by contacting Mary Lou Blasing at 507-537-2273 or marylou.blasing@swsc.org