State Technical College of Missouri is fortifying its industry partnerships with some friendly competition.
The college hosted its first State Tech Cup with industry partners Thursday. Sixteen teams of four competed in 16 challenges spread out across the campus. The team with the highest score took home the cup.
One station required teams to operate heavy equipment while another asked them to develop and shoot a 30-second commercial in front of a green screen. One station was all about building the best paper airplane.
The team from First State Community Bank began its race sending revved up Evel Knievel toys up a ramp and over the handcrafted "State Tech Canyon."
"The projects run the gamut," said Brandon McElwain, a spokesman for State Tech.
As teams raced across campus and visited various program areas, McElwain said it was a good opportunity to show how State Tech prepares students to enter technical fields. He said it would likely be the first of many State Tech Cup competitions.
State Tech President Shawn Strong said it can be difficult to understand the investment taxpayers have made in State Tech by simply driving past it.
"It's great to bring business leaders in from around the state so they can see exactly what our students see and can experience a lot of -- in a fun way -- what our students experience," Strong said.
The experience also serves to strengthen State Tech's partnerships with industry.
Some of the competing companies are connected to the college through program advisory councils, but several were completely new and had no prior relationship with State Tech. Strong said it becomes easier to interact with people on a business level after doing something social together.
"There are all sorts of ways that industry can partner with State Tech," he said. "Whether it's serving on an advisory board, hiring our students, interns, there are a lot of different things."
Mark Baker, a loan officer at Mid-America Bank, said he decided to compete in the cup because he supports the college and its role in the community.
Baker, like every other participant, didn't know what the challenges at the 16 stations would entail, but he was expecting to win. He said he was also looking forward to learning about the programs at State Tech.
"This is a good opportunity for people to learn about all the things that they have going on on campus," he said.
Ashley Varner, who works in community relations at Hitachi Energy, said she was most excited about the event as a way to network with other businesses and support State Tech.
Varner, who serves on one of State Tech's advisory boards, said the event was a fun way to support the energy company's partnership with an institution preparing future workers.
"We're growing leaps and bounds, and we're adding a product line, so what better way than to get in and build relationships with these educational institutions that are going to provide the future of our business," Varner said.
Carter Holt, a production manager at Hitachi, said he was just expecting to have fun.
It was Holt's first visit to State Tech, and he said it was time to experience the institution that prepared several of the people he works with.
"I know a lot of the community comes out here to go to school and come away with a two-year degree," Holt said. "So far, first impressions are good. Really good."
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe served as the honorary event chair and provided remarks before teams scattered to find their first challenge.
Kehoe urged the businesses to have fun and recognize the effort that goes into preparing students for careers in technical fields.
State Tech has a 99 percent job placement rate, which Kehoe said is in part because of the college's strong connections with industry employers.
"That's what workforce development is all about," Kehoe said. "We talk about that a lot, this is it living and breathing right here."
Kehoe, who used to serve on State Tech's Board of Regents, said the college used to be a substantially smaller institution and he's amazed at the physical campus expansions and swelling student enrollment.
He said he's expecting the college and technical education in general to continue expanding.
Not all Missouri students want to go to a four-year institution, Kehoe said, so the state should be identifying those students and providing opportunities for them to pursue careers.
"Find out where their heart is and find out what they really want to do, and then provide that opportunity," Kehoe said. "I think it's the key to our state's success, and this is one of the models that provides the key to that success, right here."
State Tech President Shawn Strong and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who served as the honorary event chair, spoke about the importance of technical education.