With the spring semester already in session for a month, we here at St. Cloud Technical & Community College (Ë®¹ûÅÉ) are gearing up for the best and busiest time of year.
µþ°ù±ð·É³¢Ã¤²õ³ó
Early March, we will be hosting our annual fundraiser, µþ°ù±ð·É³¢Ã¤²õ³ó , to raise funds that support student scholarships and program equipment. The event is hosted by the Ë®¹ûÅÉ Foundation and features Culinary students who make dishes that will pair with beer, wine, and cider tastings. This is its eighth year, and in addition to Chef Emily Racki taking over for now-retired Chef Jay Thomas, we’re introducing mentorships with local chefs from Jules’ Bistro, White Horse, and MC’s Dugout.
A fun time for those who attend. It takes place in the Medium/Heavy Truck lab with the diesel trucks on display alongside food and beverage tents. One perk for this year is our new Aircraft Maintenance Technician program is in the classroom right next door, and we’re opening up the planes!
Several Skilled Trades students will be at µþ°ù±ð·É³¢Ã¤²õ³ó showcasing their programs, and you can also take part in a silent auction and vote in the third annual Ë®¹ûÅÉ art show.
Join us in supporting Ë®¹ûÅÉ students on Thursday, March 5, 5-7 p.m. Tickets are available online at $50 each.
VEX Robotics
Did you know that Ë®¹ûÅÉ hosts the VEX Robotics Minnesota State Championship held at River’s Edge Convention Center? March 5-7, 200 VEX teams will be competing for a chance to participate in the Worlds Competition, with elementary-, middle-, and high-school teams from all over the state converging in St. Cloud.
This is the 16th anniversary of the state championship, with the number of teams increasing each season. In 2011, there were fewer than 50 teams. In 2024, more than 450 teams competed statewide for a chance to qualify for the championship. A team is a group of students who work together to design, build, program, and drive a robot that needs to be able to compete in a pre-set challenge. It encourages not just engineering principles, but also teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
Everyone is welcome to watch the competition – and if you’d like to volunteer, you are certainly welcome! .
Spring Break and Beyond
After these two signature Ë®¹ûÅÉ events, students go on a much-needed spring break. They’ll have just wrapped up mid-terms and will need some relaxation before the second half of the semester.
What’s fun about after spring break is how quickly the end of the semester comes. Students are getting ready to graduate, so the BookStore is filled with regalia and commencement signs litter the bulletin boards. Meanwhile, our trades programs’ SkillsUSA representatives head to state competitions for a chance at the national competition. The Collegiate DECA club attends statewide conferences. Health students travel to present poster presentations. Student success events on campus celebrate the accomplishments of all students. Springtime brings a heightened sense of excitement that seems to coincide with the longer days.
That excitement is all about the culmination of our students’ journeys. They came to Ë®¹ûÅÉ with a goal in mind, and along the way, they’ve not just learned the material, but they’ve put it to work and to the test. When they graduate from Ë®¹ûÅÉ to enter the workforce or continue their education, they know that they can do it—because they’ve done it. And whatever comes next for them reaffirms that they’ve made the right choice.
Like we said, we’re gearing up for the busiest and best time of the year. Are you ready to join us?