Alabama Construction News is the states only bimonthly magazine dedicated to the commercial construction industry.
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25 JAN-MAR 2017 AL CONSTRUCTION NEWS During time off from school over the Christmas break, some of the students currently enrolled at the Academy of Craft Training (ACT) had the opportunity to work at various construction-related companies around Birmingham. Students interested in the two-week internship submitted applications and paperwork to be considered and placed with a company. "Class instructors worked together to determine which students would excel with each company," said Mark McCord, the ACT's building construction instructor. "We wanted to make sure that the students who wanted to participate in an internship were placed in the optimum position to succeed, used the skills they have been learning at the Academy of Craft Training and got opportunities that would really illustrate what a career in the construction industry is like." Six students got hands-on experience at Goodgame Company and had various jobs depending on their trades. Electrical students were able to get electrical experience working on-site at an automotive project. Welding students worked either in the welding shop or in the field crew. Two other students were given the opportunity to work with the superintendent at one of the company's current projects, Northside Medical Office Building. "We were very excited to have high school students come and work with us," said Jason Goodgame. "As an organization, we feel it's our responsibility to help. And if these students are willing to get out and do the work, we want to provide a place to do it. And the students did a great job. They had a good work ethic, showed up on time every morning and had a good attitude." Two students, Brett Brooks and Jayden Kidd, interned at Robins & Morton and worked on a renovation project in downtown Birmingham at a 100-plus year old building. The students participated in various tasks, including architectural demolition, installing protective corner guards and built in place railing systems around expensive equipment, helping with window blocking and general carpentry duties. "They helped out on a project where we were renovating and bringing it up to the standards needed, and it was an opportunity for these students to get real exposure and experience on an actual job site," said Charles Miller, a superintendent at Robins & Morton. Austin Muir, a welding student at the ACT, interned with Fravert in its fabrication department. "At Fravert, we have several trades going on inside our shop, so the student got to participate in other trades as well," said Fravert's Head of Production Matt Hines. "The employee got to work in our finishing process to prep items for paint and work in our assembly department assembling items back together after the paint process and even installing electrical components when required." Hines and others at Fravert were pleased with Muir's performance on the job and the positive attitude he exhibited on a daily basis. "He got lots of compliments on his ability to listen and do a task the way he was instructed," Hines said. "He was very proactive with wearing his safety apparel and never had to be told to wear it or wear it correctly. He Academy of Craft Training students get real-world construction experience over Christmas break TI M E TO WOR K by PAIGE TOWNLEY We wanted to make sure that the students who wanted to participate in an internship were placed in the OPTI M U M POS ITION TO SUCCE E D , used the skills they have been learning at the Academy of Craft Training and got OPPORTU N ITI E S that would really illustrate what a career in the construction industry is like." — Mark McCord, ACT Building Construction Instructor