Student Opportunities
At Career Academy, students don’t just prepare for the future, they start building it now. Through opportunities like SkillsUSA, HOSA, Early College and our annual Signing Day, students earn industry certifications, compete at the state and national levels and secure employment before graduation. Whether entering the workforce or pursuing higher education, our students graduate with real skills, real credentials and a real head start.
SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national organization that hosts competitions focused on technical, leadership and team-building skills. These events give students a chance to demonstrate their expertise in real-world scenarios from a graphic design student creating a layout in Adobe, to construction students building a structure together.
Career Academy is proud to be a leader in these competitions. Last year, 40% of all SkillsUSA medalists in Indiana were students from our school!
2024–2025 Achievements:
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140 students from CA programs competed at the state level.
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19 students advanced to nationals in Atlanta, GA.
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Our Carpentry team took 1st place nationally, with several other students placing in the top 10.
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This marks our most awarded year yet in SkillsUSA history!
All students compete in regional contests each February. We invite all of our community partners to attend these exciting events.
HOSA – Future Health Professionals
HOSA is a national leadership organization for students interested in health sciences. It provides essential hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for the competitive medical field before they even graduate.
Every year, we send 40 students to compete at the Indiana State HOSA Conference, where they test their skills and knowledge against peers from across the state.
2024–2025 Achievements:
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Multiple students earned top 10 finishes in a variety of healthcare-related competitions.
Signing Day
Signing Day is our premier annual event, celebrating students who are entering the workforce directly after high school. It represents the culmination of internships, mentorships and hands-on career training.
Each year, more than 400 attendees join us from community partners, employers and families to honor students who are signing with an employer right after graduation.
Over the past seven years, we've grown from just 14 students signing in our first year to an incredible 148 students securing employment directly after high school in 2025.
We are proud to support student employment beyond the classroom with no limits on what our students can achieve.
Early College Program
Our Early College program gives students a head start on their futures whether they’re entering the workforce or pursuing higher education.
2024–2025 Achievements:
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128 students earned credential from Ivy Tech
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122 certificate completions
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An increasing number of students graduate with a full associate degree alongside their high school diploma.
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All students complete industry-recognized credentials in their chosen pathways.
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5,987 total Ivy Tech dual credits earned by Career Academy students, totaling $1,018,294 in tuition savings!
These credentials help students stay competitive in the job market or prepared for college. Our program continues to grow each year, providing students with real-world skills and academic achievements before graduation.
The Ambassador Leadership Program
This new initiative brings together a select group of student leaders from each of our 24 Career Academy pathways to serve as the face and voice of our programs. Ambassadors will represent the Career Academy at tours, events and outreach activities while building strong employability and leadership skills.
Through collaboration with peers from other pathways and engagement with community partners, participants will sharpen their communication, teamwork and professionalism.
