Lincoln high schoolers try their hand at construction jobs

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Local high school students got the opportunity to learn more about construction and its many career paths on Thursday.

The Home Builders Association of Lincoln and Build our Nebraska hosted the fourth annual Construction Career Day at Haymarket Park.

“I think there is a big need for people in construction,” event Chair Jerome Montgomery said. “Over the years, everybody has pushed kids into four-year colleges, and that’s needed, but we also need kids in two-year trade school and apprenticeships. What we are trying to do is just bring awareness to all the different types of pathways to make good money.”

Students operated heavy machines, drove nails, built masonry walls, finished concrete and much more.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the students to come out and get some hands-on experience on some of the trades. organizer Bo Jones said. “Drive some machinery, see how concrete gets poured and see how rebar gets tied.”

Montgomery said that in years past, the event was held in surrounding cities like Omaha and Milford before organizers noticed a lack of exposure in the Capital City.

“We just felt that Lincoln Public Schools and the surrounding schools were missing out, so we had to do one here,” Montgomery said.

Jones hopes this will also help spread the word and get more schools involved with such events.

“We need to get the schools ramped up and give the schools the support they need to show students what these opportunities are,” he said.

Lincoln Northeast High School construction teacher Bob Freese said events like this inspire kids.

He’s had many students go on to work in trades and become quite successful, something he enjoys seeing.

“They pull up on a job site or they stop me somewhere like the gas station, and they tell me about their business and how grateful they are to have the opportunity to get started in this business,” Freese said.