On Oct. 3, more than 650 high school students entered the Operating Engineers Training Center in Miamisburg for the Miami Valley Alliance of Construction Professionals 12th Annual Construction Career Expo.
Students gathered around information tables and interactive experiences that gave them a taste of the Building Trades.
- OPCM Local 132 drew a crowd, having students mix plaster to the correct consistency and cast their own molds.
- At the IUPAT-DC6 booth, Training Director George Booth helped students understand the intricacies of the virtual sprayer.
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 and Ironworkers Local 290 both let students try their hand with a blowtorch and weld helmet.
- IBEW Local 82 was having a good time with students, explaining, and then demonstrating, the power of an electrical current.
Randy Fox, Executive Director of AGC, West Central OH Division, and Deb Rhodes of AGC, West Central Ohio Division both felt the Expo was well received.
“The students were engaged in the activities – there was no sitting around,” said Rhodes. “They patiently waited in line to participate in hands on activities and to speak with program representatives.”
Rhodes said that immediately following the event, she received an email from an instructor at Upper Valley Career Center thanking her for the event. “This turned out to be the best event like this we have visited. I would love to attend next year as well,” the email read.
Congratulations on a job well done and 650 students given the hands-on opportunities to experience the Building Trades.
