North Platte Community College in North Platte, Neb., recently showed high school students what careers in the construction industry are all about during Nebraska Construction Career Days.
Around 75 students from nine area schools got up close and personal with various aspects of the construction industry as they participated in seven stations that showcased different construction jobs, The North Platte Telegraph reported. Among the stations included were ones for groundwater and construction, and surveyors and the impact of modern technology and equipment.
Of the surveyor and technology demonstration, Hannah Hoffman of Adams Middle School said, "It's a pretty good job. You have to make sure there's no endangered animals where you build a road. The GPS system is actually very easy and super fast. They plug in the coordinates; then it goes into a computer and they can measure it out really fast."
According to Ryan Johnsen, an operations specialist, Construction Career Days can help others get past their preconceived notions about the industry and learn what it's really all about, The North Platte Telegraph reported.
"Nebraska Construction Career Days is an effort funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Nebraska Department of Transportation to effectively try to take a different approach to career education in the construction field," said Johnsen. "In particular, it's a hands-on approach partnering with technical schools, local vendors, local contractors and, of course, the local students and instructors to essentially paint a well-rounded picture of what's going on and what's available in the construction industry."
