As reading week was in full swing for students at Durham College, the Oshawa and Whitby campus facilities were put to great use by high school students across Durham Region.

The region’s annual Skills Competition took place from February 21 to 24 in the college’s labs and studios and made use of its state-of-the-art technology. The competition gives students an opportunity to test their skills in a number of categories including graphic design; 2- and 3D-animation; photography; TV and video production; web development among others. The top three winners from each category received gold, silver and bronze medals, provided by Skills Canada.

“The School of Media, Art & Design has welcomed our high school partners for four years now for this event and it has proven to be an excellent relationship builder for us,” said Charlotte Hale, associate dean for the School of Media, Art & Design (MAD). “A number of students who competed this year made their decision to attend Durham College based on their experience at the School of MAD that week!”

This year secondary schools also brought junior teams from Grades 9 and 10 to experience the competition. The junior teams were not judged like the Grade 11 and 12 students, but took part in the activities as a learning experience. Seventy students and teachers from high schools all across Durham Region including Pine Ridge Secondary School, Maxwell Heights Secondary School, and Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute took part in the competition. The group of judges was made up of nine faculty members from the college, four senior MAD students, and five industry representatives.

The Regional Skills Competition is the preliminary qualifying round for high school students before moving on to the Ontario Skills Competition, which takes place in May. Following the Ontario Skills Competition is the National Skills Competition, and finally, the International Skills Competition for successful competitors.

“Durham College has done very well at the Ontario Skills competition in the past,” said Hale, “and we are currently preparing for this year’s event in May.”