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Hundreds of high school students from counties across Northwest Florida gathered at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds this week for the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) fifth-annual Construction Careers Day event whose aim is to prepare the next generation of workers for post-graduation life.
Volunteers transformed the Santa Rosa Fairground into an all-in-one convention that teaches students about the local construction industry, encourages them to consider their future career opportunities and offers a unique chance to operate equipment or perform field simulations under the guidance of professionals.
Students were able to meet current industry professionals as well as potential employers. Officially, attendees got a day off from their classroom studies, but they still spent their time at the event learning and connecting with one another over their futures.
“It’s a great environment, (thank you) to all of the people that started this event,” said student attendee Zykel Jones. “They’re encouraging everybody to do something with their life, taking the time out to talk to all of us, teaching us what we’re looking at and learning about. So, it’s a pretty good place, I’m not going to lie.”
Construction Careers Day is a nationwide program that has multiple events across the sunshine state, but the Northwest Florida rendition is organized by FDOT’s third district.
Students get a chance to speak with FDOT mentors, contractors and representatives from engineering firms about how their respective careers function on a day-to-day basis, whether they’re interested in the field already or if their decision isn’t necessarily set in stone.
High school seniors who attended CCD, whether in person or virtually, were eligible to receive a portion of the event’s $50,000 scholarship fund after applying online.
The scholarship fund is generated by the CCD’s fundraisers throughout the year as well as donations from sponsors. The scholarship was established to assist high school graduates enrolling in college, trade/vocational education programs, and those entering directly into the workforce.
During the event, students over the age of 18 can fill out applications for companies looking to hire employees in these career fields.
The event welcomed students from Walton County for the first time in 2024 and extended an invitation to schools in Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties as well, adding hundreds more curious minds to the already-bustling atmosphere.
Multiple volunteer companies at the event told the News Journal they’re seeing an increased interest from students, whether their curiosity lies in the construction field itself or simply their responsibilities.
“This event was definitely a way to get out of school, but at the same time they’re teaching us about so many different careers that we can go into after high school,” said Moses Delarosa, another attendee and Jones’ friend. “I’m thinking about (the) Air Force personally, but this has really opened my eyes to all the different opportunities that I have as a student … stuff like bridge building and learning about what these people do is appealing.”
Some beneficiaries like Brayden Ruschmeier serve as a living testament to what students can gain.
Ruschmeier gained full-time employment at Neel-Schaffer Engineering after meeting them two years ago at CCD. The engineering firm is one of multiple local companies that recruit at the event.
“Two years ago I didn’t know what the heck I wanted to do … now I’ve made a home with this company and I love it,” Ruschmeier told the News Journal. “To be honest, I came here for a day out of school and left with a career. I did not think that all of this is what I’d be getting into.”
Not every student will get a job from the event, nor does every single one want a job in the field, but the event has created a community-oriented outlook on preparing students for the next phase of their lives.
Taliyah Johnson landed a job during the event and will enter a construction-related role for local law enforcement.
She told the News Journal she’s confident in her path because it’ll help her achieve a few different personal goals, like affording herself the opportunity to vacation as well as give back to her community.
“We got to skip class, we got some good food and we got to come out here and see a lot of job opportunities,” Johnson saidl. “I found the job opportunity I’ve been (seeking) for the past couple months.”