Tuesday evening was a big night for the ACE Academy and the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter as students, staff, employers, apprenticeship programs, and schools gathered to inaugurate the opening of AGC at ACE Academy, AGC’s first ever high school student chapter in the US! About 75 people attended the event with a balanced mix of both incoming ACE students and their parents. Support from the construction industry was evident and included individuals from Hamilton Construction, Lease Crutcher Lewis, Walsh Construction, and AGC who were on hand to provide information to interested students and parents about the viability of a career in construction and the high skill, high wage jobs the industry provides.
Skilled tradespeople from several local apprenticeship programs and Star Rentals provided students some great hands-on experiences. Also, representatives from Oregon State University’s Construction Engineering Management Program, Portland State University’s Architecture Program, and Mount Hood Community College’s Engineering Program talked with students regarding their personal experiences working within the construction industry and the many opportunities it has provided them in the form of mentorships, apprenticeships, and guaranteed jobs post-graduation.
ACE faculty members provided tours of the various classrooms and workspaces and were available to answer questions from students and parents. To start the school year off with a bang, 2014 AGC chapter president Steve Malany presented a $1,100 check to ACE Academy for their new student chapter – another example of industry investments that will work to ensure the workforce of our future.
For more information on ACE Academy, please click here.