VIDEO: Valley Paving Challenges Minnetonka High School Students
Valley Paving challenges Minnetonka High students to bid on a parking lot project, teaching practical math skills and industry knowledge. Winners receive cash prize and recognition. Program aims to prepare students for skilled trades careers through hands-on learning.
Tue March 11, 2025 - Midwest Edition #6 CEG
Valley Paving, a road construction and paving contractor in Shakopee, Minn., is engaging students at Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minn., by challenging them to apply their mathematical skills to bid on a parking lot project that was completed at the local middle school.
The school's MOMENTUM program offers "opportunities for students with a passion for real-word, hands-on learning to take courses that can lead to skilled trade careers," according to the school. More than 400 Minnetonka High School students are registered in the MOMENTUM program's automotive, aviation and construction systems areas.
"This innovative endeavor all started with countless industry expert volunteers from MAPA [Minnesota Asphalt and Pavement Association] where students got to experience the industry first-hand at Valley Paving," said Brent Veninga, MOMENTUM program coordinator. "In this multi-station exercise, students got direct information and exposure on what it takes to run a business: from welding to crawling inside the driver's seat of motor graders, dozers, dump trucks and other massive machines to students learning about the latest in drone technology. They received insights to the many elements it takes to complete a large transportation paving project."
The program begins with a visit to Valley Paving's shop, where students can explore and interact with the equipment they will use in their bids, as well as learn welding techniques.
"Alongside Bituminous Roadways and Duininck, Valley Paving teaches practical math skills relevant to the trade, such as using geometry and algebra to estimate project costs accurately," said Brent Carron, president of Valley Paving. "Over the two-month duration of the project, students present their estimates, explaining the quantities and pricing calculations to a panel of industry experts. The winning team receives recognition and a cash prize."
"During the first five weeks of the project, industry experts and our instructional team incorporated lessons on reading blueprints and the major elements of the project, from removal and aggregates to utilities, paving and excavation," said Veninga. "Next, students are provided with the opportunity to give their bid presentation to a review panel, followed by a ‘bid opening' event so everyone could hear what the other teams did."
Throughout the experience, students strengthened skills to levels beyond what they might achieve in a typical classroom environment.
"From the hard skills related to math and physics, to soft skills of working with professionals on a weekly basis, a new type of learning was created thanks to these industry experts," said Veninga. "Budgeting and estimating are lifelong skills for us all to acquire, and this took place throughout the challenge. Now students have a new understanding of the consistency of the materials applied, labor required and resources implanted, this experience really differentiates our MOMENTUM students in new and positive ways."
Lano Equipment Honors Valley Paving's Rich Carron
Lano Equipment is a third-generation, family-owned equipment dealership. The company was founded in 1946 by four brothers who returned home after serving in the military. Their first shop was in Chaska, Minn. In 1978, the company moved to a 16,000-sq.-ft. facility in Shakopee.
Lano Equipment now serves its customers from its three locations in Minnesota — Anoka, Loretto and Shakopee — offering equipment, service and parts from a variety of manufacturers, including Bobcat, Kubota, Sany, DEVELON, Toro, Steiner, Felling Trailers and many more.
Richard Carron has long been a proud veteran of the United States Army. The founder and past owner of Valley Paving Inc. in Shakopee, Minn., southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Carron served his country in the late 1960s during the Vietnam War.
He has elected to show his pride in the United States and the country's armed forces by applying decals of the flag and symbols of the various branches of the military onto each piece of equipment used by Valley Paving.
Recently, Carron was honored by Lano Equipment for his years of service with a custom wrap on a Bobcat S770 skid steer. The wrap was done by Dirty Graphix of Stillwater, Minn. "Our relationship with Valley Paving spans more than 40 years," said Juston Lano, general manager of Lano Equipment. "Lano values its close partnership with Rich, Brent and their team to ensure timely project completion. The custom wrap on this unit honors Rich's dedicated military service." CEG
