Hamilton Heights CTE students showcase skills at “The Sandbox” demonstration event

The energy was high at Hamilton Heights School Corporation’s Sandbox recently as students in the Construction Trades Education (CTE) program stepped into the spotlight.

The hands-on outdoor learning space, designed to provide students with real-world experience using heavy equipment, served as the perfect stage for an impressive demonstration of their technical skills, industry knowledge, and future career potential.

The event was more than just a showcase – it was an educational opportunity for teachers from other subjects to gain insight into the trades pathway and the dedication it takes to excel in this field. Through live demonstrations, students illustrated the complexities of operating heavy machinery, the precision required for construction work, and the valuable certifications they can earn during high school – all under the expert guidance of CTE instructor Kevin Sheets.

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Senior Kendall Flanders enjoyed sharing his knowledge with other teachers to help them better understand what takes place in the Civil Engineering class.

For Ethan Miller, a sophomore, it was an opportunity to show his excellent hands-on skills at running equipment and to demonstrate how he is excelling in this area.

“Programs like this one are important to offer to make sure we are giving HHHS students the opportunity to prepare for a successful future career,” Media Center Specialist Lori Hippensteel said. “The HHHS trades program offers students the opportunity to learn skills needed in the workplace and earn licensures and certifications that can be immediately used in the workplace. Education is about watching students smile and enjoy being outside the traditional building, learning and growing in a trade. We want them to find something they love and find a way to apply that love to their future career.”

Academic Intervention Teacher Kelly Smith said, “Working in The Sandbox was such a great PLC for all of us as teachers. Not only was it a cool and unique experience, but it gave us all a chance to see some of the amazing things that come out of Kevin’s program. It is really exciting to see the kids who may not be as into the academic side of school learn skills and trades that are going to set them up for life!  I loved having students from the program show me flawlessly how to run machinery with effortless ease and seeing them get a chance to shine!”

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Hamilton Heights High School Principal Whitney Gray said, “It was a great experience. Fun for our staff to see what our kids in the construction pathway get to experience. Several students gave up their time teaching us how to operate these machines, and that was the coolest part. They were excited to share what they had learned, and they did a great job teaching!”

“I think this was important to show the teachers that may not be familiar with the program or did not know what they were actually doing out there how much actually goes into running a piece of heavy equipment,” explained Chris Wooldridge, who works for Bobcat of Indy and is a familiar face and resource for Heights’ CTE students. “Some people (not just teachers, but anyone) may think they are just taking the class to go and play with skid steers, but in reality they are getting tools that could easily land them a very good paying job straight out of school. We at Berry Companies and Bobcat of Indy are happy to invest in our local communities with programs like this where we can be of assistance.”

“The whole afternoon showed our staff how the trades play a part in our overall curriculum,” said Kevin Sheets, who loved seeing how many educators attended this special event. “For some of the educators, it was their first time at the Sandbox, and they were blown away by what they saw the students do. Former Heights CTE teacher, Eric Fisher, now the Director of Talent Development for Indiana Constructors Inc., was also on hand to support the effort and build a story for his platform. It was a great day!”

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By bridging classroom education with career-oriented training, the program empowers students with practical experience that translates directly into workforce readiness. Wednesday’s showcase reinforced the importance of skilled trades and celebrated the students’ achievements, leaving educators with a deeper appreciation for the impact of CTE career pathway at Heights.

Hamilton Heights continues to lead the way in preparing students for future success, ensuring that hands-on programs like this one remain a cornerstone of their educational mission.