APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – More than 200 Appleton-area high schoolers traded in their thinking caps for hard hats Monday as part of a careers showcase hosted by Miron Construction.
Students from Appleton East High School, Appleton North High School and Appleton Technical Academy were invited to participate, gaining hands-on experience and knowledge about the many careers available in the construction and skilled trades industry.
Throughout the event, students rotated through four stations: virtual construction, masonry, carpentry and surveying. Appleton East’s expansion and remodel construction site served as their learning lab.
“Our hope today is that students get to experience viable career paths within construction, and that they know that as soon as they graduate, they can jump into a career and earn while they learn by going through the registered apprenticeship process and finding a valuable career that’s right here in the community of the Fox Cities,” explained Dawn Grenzer-Stumpf, the education engagement manager for Miron Construction.
Grenzer-Stumpf said events like this one are intended to be educational for the students, but they also double as a recruitment tool for the construction industry, which is in dire need of a new generation of workers.
A lot of our talent is at retirement age and there is a gap. I believe there’s a stat — of every three individuals, there’s only one coming in to replace them.
Peyton Nichols is one of the students who participated in Monday’s program. The son of a construction worker, he said he’s known since he was young that he wanted to get involved in this industry.
“I’m just loving it. All this stuff, it’s a great opportunity,” Nichols said. “It’s always been kind of something I wanted to do and get into. It’s just where do I want to go and what do I want to do?”
As a carpenter youth apprentice with Miron Construction, John Jorgensen — a junior at Appleton East — has been given the unique opportunity to help remodel his very own school.
“I wake up every day looking forward to it, being able to come to work. And in the future being able to tell my kids, ‘Oh yeah, I built my high school,'” Jorgensen said.
On Monday, he was there to help teach his fellow students and share his experiences.
“I have buddies that have come through today on the field trips and I’m just like, “Hey, this is what I do for my job,'” Jorgensen added. “It’s really cool to see their reactions.”
To learn more about career opportunities with Miron Construction, click here.
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