For three days this past October, 20 students from the Penn Manor School District (PMSD) participated in the Keystone Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Wars, a middle school hands-on career exploration event held annually at the Keystone Center for Construction Careers in Manheim. The program, sponsored by ABC, attracts about 200 students from the Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.
"This year, we had our technology teachers, who work with all students, pick students in eighth grade that they feel have a high interest in the construction trades," said Manor Middle School counselor Danielle Rogers.
Eleven students from Manor Middle School and nine from Marticville Middle School built wooden benches, tested electrical circuits, made sheet metal toolboxes, and laid brick under the guidance of professionals in the construction industry. The eighth-graders also learned about high-paying, in-demand jobs in the trades as well as the education and training programs available to them through the Keystone Chapter of the ABC and the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center.
"At our high school, students have the option to do a ninth-grade experience tech class where they get to rotate and experience different constructional trades, such as woodworking, welding, robotics, and electricity," explained Rogers. "And then based on that experience, they can take a course focusing on one of the categories. This is just a little teaser to see what they enjoy and see what their interests and passions are."
Participants from Manor Middle School were Seth Barrett, Tyler Cook, Hunter Cusack, Zriyah DeJesus, Johary Frias Vasquez, Kayleigh Harmon, Reagan Gerlach, Ethan Markulik, Jeremy Marte, Jacob Nesmith, and Antonio Rodriquez. The Marticville Middle School students were Hudson Mehaffey, Josh Zook, Ben Patterson, Ethan Todd, Aida Riveria, Janelly Vazquez, Nicea Rocca, Braden Hickey, and Quintin Hopstetter.
"I was thinking about going to college and getting a degree in something, and there's nothing wrong with that," said Josh, "but at the same time, I was like, 'Well, if I can do stuff in high school and learn how to do it and be working right out of high school, that may be a better option.' Going there (to Construction Wars) made me realize I like working more hands-on and outside than working in an office."
"The hands-on experience was fun," noted Hudson. "It was all just a great experience. I never thought I would like electric, but I really enjoyed that."
"I really liked the masonry and carving wood," said Kayleigh. "I had experience with woodworking with my grandfather when I was younger. He does it as a hobby."
"I really liked the sheet metal, and my second favorite was the woodwork," stated Jeremy.
Every year, the eighth-graders from the PMSD attend the Construction Wars in the fall, and seventh-graders attend in the spring. To learn more about ABC Keystone, visit https://abckeystone.org.
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