When Nate Press, Talent Acquisition Specialist for E&B Paving, was looking at the roundabout construction project taking place at the intersection of State Road 38 and Boden Road in Noblesville, he had an “a-ha” moment.
“What an incredible opportunity for students interested in the trades to get an up-close and personal look at the components involved in an active road construction project that just happened to be taking place between the E & B Paving Office and Irving Materials, Inc. (IMI) quarry operations in our own backyard,” he thought.
Press reached out to Kevin Sheets, Hamilton Heights High School Construction Trades Education (CTE) teacher, with the idea of bringing students to E&B, IMI, and the job site for interactive learning experience in real time. Sheets was all in!
Sheets, along with 10 students (including two who will intern at the E&B lab this summer), and an instructional assistant, took advantage of the offer, and in turn had a powerful, engaging, and interactive learning experience.
Press crafted a half-day agenda that featured safety briefs throughout each segment of the day. Students were divided into smaller groups, spending the first part of the day in the quarry viewing and learning the different aspects of the process – digging, blasting, moving, crushing, and re-crushing of stone. After lunch, they spent time in the safe area of the construction site to watch live construction action. The day concluded at E&B where Chad Hartwick, E&B Estimator/Project Manager, shared company history, overview, and a tour of the lab.
Kevin Sheets, HHHS Construction Trades Education Teacher, captures students watching IMI’s drill team drill holes for explosives to blast the rock. (Photo provided)
“It was an awesome day for students interested in civil construction/engineering,” Sheets said. “Nate went all out and presented our students with an interesting, informative, and educational experience they absolutely loved. The opportunity to have a hands-on learning experience at a real job site and see how all the players are involved in that site, was a great overall learning experience.”
“We welcome the opportunity to show students and literally let them see and touch what we do as we advocate for careers in the civil pathway,” Press added. “This is a way we can continue to support the schools who are developing the workers of tomorrow that we want to hire. Building partnerships within our school systems is really important to us. Kevin’s enthusiasm in teaching means so much to his students, but it means even more to us. We value any opportunity to engage students who might want to pursue a career in civil engineering and construction trades fields and what better way than to see those jobs in action!”
Ten students pursuing careers in the construction trades along with CTE Educator Kevin Sheets and Instructional Assistant Krytsal Hickman had an experiential learning at an active jobsite arranged by E&B Paving’s Nate Press. (Photo provided)