Vincennes University Early College, Area 31 Career Center named Celebrate Your School Top 25 Honoree

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. 

More information about VU Early College

About Vincennes University - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper, the Aviation Technology Center and American Sign Language program in Indianapolis, Early College Career and Technical Education Centers, and additional sites such as the Gene Haas Training and Education Center in Lebanon, the Logistics Training and Education Center in Plainfield, and the Gibson County Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics in Fort Branch. VU offers online degrees and classes to students who need access to college courses and flexibility through its Distance Education.

A leader in dual credit and career and technical education statewide, VU also offers instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs, VU also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security, nursing, health care services administration, secondary education programs in mathematics and science, and special education/elementary education.

VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 39 other states, and 16 other countries. Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with residence halls. VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the United States. William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory. More information is available at www.vinu.edu.