New Ambassador Training Program Launched
Ambassadors receive intensive, up-front training that teaches them about the Build California program and equips them with the resources to effectively rep- resent the program at outreach events. This summer, Build California is launching an On-Demand Ambassador
Training Program that will streamline the onboarding process and make it easy for new Ambassadors to fit the training into their busy schedules. The on-de- mand courses offer a unique professional development opportunity that is exclusive to Build California Ambassadors. To get involved and learn more, contact Senior Build California Manager, Abigail Palomares, at
PalomaresA@agc-ca.org.
“College is a great path, but it doesn’t fit everybody.What Build California is trying to do is createmore visibility and opportunity for peoplewho are coming out of high school and even college and who don’t know about all the career possibilities in construction.” – Brad Simmons, Royal Electric Company
Career Connections at Fontana High School In Southern California’s Fontana High School, educator Lamar Hanger is leading another highly successful CTE program called Career Connections. Established in partnership with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, the two-year career pathway program is designed to introduce carpen- try skills to students and provide them a pathway to lucrative jobs in the trades after high school. A former 32-year member of the South-
west Mountain States Carpenters who came out of retirement to lead the high school program, Hanger brings a unique passion to
the program at Fontana High. Te program has reached full-capacity enrollment in just two years, growing from 50 students in year one to 150 in the second year that wrapped up this spring. Around 160 stu- dents are expected to be in the program in the coming school year. In addition to learning carpentry skills by
tackling real projects, such as design-build of a shed, construction of an oversized Adirondack chair and other projects, stu- dents have had the opportunity to visit the UBC International Apprentice Training Center in Las Vegas and have successfully competed in regional design-build compe- titions with other schools. Tey captured
a second-place finish in the Construction Industry Education Foundation’s 37th annual design-build competition in spring 2022 in Orange County. Build California Ambassadors and
staff have made an impact by coming in to speak to students in the program at least twice a year, according to Hanger, sharing information on construction career pathways, scholarship opportunities and program grants. “Te kids are always excited to hear about the opportunities (Build California Ambassadors) bring up,” Hanger noted. Swinerton and other AGC of California member contractors have also individ- ually supported the program with tool donations and by offering direct links to jobs, he added. Hanger is proud to point out that six
students are expected to join the Carpen- ter’s Union immediately after completing the Career Connections program this year, and four joined after the first year of the program. Te program’s growing popularity is a testament to how it is perceived by the students and the real-world, hands-on skills students get out of it, regardless of their career choice after high school. “You need these programs, because
not every kid is going to go to college or the military,” Hanger added. “Whether or not they go directly into the trades or not, our kids are learning skills they will use the rest of their lives.”
CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTOR JULY/AUGUST 2023
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