From classroom to workplace, learning continues for Heights summer interns

When the opportunity to apply for a paid summer internship at E & B Paving came his way, Blake Dill, a junior at Hamilton Heights High School, jumped on it. Dill, who has family members working in the construction industry, started to think about careers in construction trades while he was in middle school.

Like Dill, Hamilton Heights senior Ethan Halverson, said when he learned about the opportunity to have an immersive experience in the asphalt industry through a paid summer internship at E & B Paving, he applied. Most of Halverson’s family work in the trades and he said that has been a big influence in his career interest.

“I wanted to get my foot in the door for bigger opportunities down the road,” said Halverson, who has always wanted a job in the construction industry.”

E & B opened that door for Halverson.

When Dill started high school, he began to hone his focus on the construction trades education pathway. Dill credits Nate Press, Talent Acquisition Specialist for E & B Paving, who was a guest speaker in one of his classes.

“Mr. Press talked about the company, who they are, what they do, its history, and what opportunities they offer to both high school and college graduates,” recalled Dill. “Before he left, he gave all students his business card and encouraged us to call or email for additional questions or to learn more.”

Dill wanted to learn more. That interest and enthusiasm helped Dill secure a summer internship with E & B.

Halverson said he has learned a lot about asphalt and aggregates at E & B, how it’s made, its composition, and all the ropes of testing quality control of the asphalt. Dill, who wants to work in the construction field as a dump truck driver, agrees. “Each day it get to learn something new about this industry,” he said. “This experience has shown me there’s a lot more to making a quality asphalt and more variety in careers within the asphalt industry.”

During his last year in high school, Halverson said will be focused on narrowing down what area of the trades he wants to focus his career.

“Although being a heavy machine operator is my dream, this internship has swayed my eyes to more opportunities such as operating in a quarry, starting my own construction company, or working in the mines,” Halverson said. “After I graduate, I plan to go straight into the workforce in my chosen profession and work my butt off to achieve my dreams.”

These opportunities allow students to get into the workforce and earn a living faster than ever.

“Now more than ever, it’s important that construction trades educators at the high-school level advocate to create work-based learning opportunities for their students,” explained Eric “Fish” Fisher, Director of Talent Development for Indiana Constructors, Inc. (ICI) and former Construction Trades Education teacher at Hamilton Heights High School. ICI has been the voice of Indiana’s highway, heavy and utility construction industry for a century. It supports federal and state agencies, national and statewide industry associations, and owners groups.

Kevin Sheets, CTE teacher at Hamilton Heights, who continues to build upon Heights’ premier construction trades education program initially spearheaded by Fisher, agrees.

“The construction industry is experiencing a surge in retirements, leaving the industry without the equal amount of incoming talent that is greatly needed across the board in Indiana’s construction trades industry,” Sheets said. “There continues to be a high demand for skilled tradesmen and women in Indiana and across the country. The opportunities, diversity of jobs, high wages and benefits continue to make careers in the construction trades a highly desirable career path.”

Fisher said paid internships in the trades mean a wide variety of opportunities earlier for students.

“Working together with high school CTE teachers across the state like Sheets is opening new doors to opportunities for students in the civil construction industry – from skilled trades to professional services,” said Fisher, whose primary role at ICI is to build civil construction programs in Indiana high schools, which supports the construction trades educators with professional development and equipment as well as help build pathways for students to find meaningful careers in the horizontal construction industry. “Paid internships offer students the opportunity to be a laborer, work in Quality Control Quality Assurance labs, survey, inspection, estimating, and construction technology. All these experiences enable students to get a sense of their fit, what they can see themselves doing and where to jumpstart a great career in the construction industry once they graduate. These internships are wins for students and employers alike.”

Sheets said Heights’ program will continue to grow in collaboration with industry partners.

“Each year, our CTE students have the chance to earn industry certifications, hands-on experience in the Sandbox, Heights outdoor classroom, knowledge, and essential career-ready skills that can help them to secure jobs right after graduation or continue their education,” added Sheets, who has helped grow the program in size and scope during his three-year tenure. “We remain committed to growing our Career and Technical Education program in collaboration with our industry partners to develop the next generation of skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.”