Early College, Area 31 Career Center named Celebrate Your School Top 25 honoree

July 06, 2026

VINCENNES, Ind. - The strong partnership between Vincennes University Early College and the Area 31 Career Center has earned a major state accolade.

The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis has named the partners' Networking and Cybersecurity program a Celebrate Your School Award Top 25 honoree. Out of nearly 100 submissions statewide, this program stands out for accelerating student achievement.

Associate Provost of K-12 Programs and Partnerships Dr. Lori Pence said, "Our Networking and Cybersecurity program sets the gold standard for dual-credit education in Indiana. We intentionally design these pathways to maximize student leadership and workforce readiness. This honor proves that when VU and Area 31 collaborate, we create extraordinary opportunities for students to excel in high-demand technical fields before they even graduate high school."

Through this dynamic pathway, students learn cybersecurity skills while earning 33 college credits and industry-standard certifications before completing high school.

The program is well respected throughout the state. It was also recognized in 2025 with an Indiana Award for Excellence from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

CELL’s 25th anniversary award brings a monetary gift that Area 31 Career Center will use to expand the reach and resources of the Early College program. 

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