Construction expo gives students hands-on experience

28 Apr 2017

Workforce, Schools, Education

More than 100 area students got an up-close glimpse at a career in the trades during the Construction Industry Career Expo Thursday at Portzen Construction Co. in Dubuque.

The expo features 10 trade demonstrations, allowing students to do everything from hook up electrical wiring to operate a jackhammer.

Kelly Cooper, executive director of Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council, said the event allows union representatives to show students what they do, rather than just tell them.

“We really wanted to make this as hands-on as possible,” Cooper said. “These students learn more by actually doing things.”

Cooper said representatives from nine local unions are taking part in the event. It is sponsored by the Alliance for Construction Excellence, a committee of Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council.

The two-day event continues today and is expected to be attended by about 300 students from nearly a dozen area high schools.

Logan Kelly, a senior at Maquoketa (Iowa) High School, was among the attendees Thursday. He is enrolled in a welding academy, which is offered at his school in conjunction with Clinton Community College.

Attending the expo gave him a chance to further explore his post-graduation options.

“I don’t necessarily want to go to college, and I am still figuring out the best thing to do,” he said. “An apprenticeship seems like a pretty good option. It seems like a nice way to work your way into a profession.” (full article…)

BY JEFF MONTGOMERY Dubuque Telegraph Herald, April 28, 2017

This copyrighted material is posted with permission of TH Media

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