“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>When the Construction Careers Center charter high school opened its doors and welcomed its first group of freshmen in September 2001, there were many skeptics in the local construction industry leaders and in education. Their collective eyebrows arched at the chances for success of a new 4-year charter high school, designed to prepare students for careers in the construction trades.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>This month, the school is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a gala event, at which school founders and staff will discuss the personal stories that make up the school’s success.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Dominique Gardner was a member of the first graduating class of the Construction Careers Center in 2005.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>“While attending the CCC, we did volunteer work for Habitat For Humanity, and that really gave me some real insight as to what it would be like to work on an actual jobsite,” said Gardner.
“mso-spacerun: yes;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Shortly after graduation he was hired by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, where he remains today. He is a union journeyman and purchased his own home in the spring of 2010.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Gardner is one of 278 who have graduated from the Construction Careers Center. Some went right to work after graduating and are employed today as carpenter apprentices, bricklayer assistants, operating engineer apprentices and laborers. Some decided to join the military, and many went on to college to pursue degrees in engineering and architecture.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Today, those graduates are studying at the University of Nebraska, Kansas State University, Alabama A&M University, Southern University, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, St. Louis Community College and the UMSL/Washington University Joint Engineering Program.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>In December 2010, the Construction Careers Center celebrated another first.
“mso-spacerun: yes;”> the first to graduate from a four-year university, earning a bachelor’s degree in construction management from SIUE. While earning his degree, Brian interned at construction firms including ABNA Engineering, SM Wilson and Cissell-Mueller, as well as MODOT.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>“The CCC is a great program,” Cox said. “I wanted to be in construction since I was a little kid, and the program was a great building block in preparing me for the next level of education.” “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang= “EN-US”>The drawing board “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Like a blueprint, the plans for this first-of-its-kind school were formed from a small group of construction industry executives who wanted to accomplish two things: fill the future need for skilled tradesworkers and diversify the local construction industry.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Along with many committed AGC volunteers, Len Toenjes, president of the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis, helped to organize and lead the effort.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>“It was important for the community to understand that if we built this charter high school, our students would not only receive a strong foundation in academics and life-skills, they would also learn fundamental construction skills and the importance of giving back to their communities,” Toenjes said.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Lewis Reed, then 6th Ward alderman and current aldermanic president,
“mso-spacerun: yes;”> Hall to get the school building open at 1224 Grattan.
“mso-spacerun: yes;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Reed said, “The school has delivered on both of its promises – to diversify the local construction industry, and perhaps more importantly, provide career training and a future, for hundreds of disadvantaged young people in the City of St. Louis.”
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>2008 graduate Jessica Flanagan was one of those young people who hadn’t thought much about her future until her mother read a CCC brochure.
“mso-spacerun: yes;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>“My mom heard about the school and wanted me to go there, even though I really wasn’t interested in construction,” she says “But after taking a field trip to MODOT, I realized right then and there that I wanted to work in construction.”
“mso-spacerun: yes;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Today, Flanagan is completing work at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and plans to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>As the Construction Careers Center prepares to hand out diplomas to its 7th graduating class, enrollment continues to increase, and so do test scores.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>“It’s a very positive situation for all involved,” Toenjes said.
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>“Filling the shortages in the local construction workforce is good for the economy, diversifying the workforce is good for the community, and providing the foundation for a future career for these kids is the biggest win of all.”
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang= “EN-US”> “mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Construction Careers Center 10th Anniversary Celebration will be held Thursday, February 10 at the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis. Funds raised from the celebration will support the school’s endowment fun.
“mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal;” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Register online at http://events.agcstl.org/imispublic/ or call the AGC of St. Louis Office at 314-781-2356.
