L-627 BM-ST Jacob Evenson, apprentice instructor Gary Bain, Richard Lerma and Randell Nez staff the Boilermakers’ booth at the Arizona Construction Career Days event.
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Each year, more than 5,000 students from over 70 high schools turn out for the Arizona Construction Career Days to check out what the construction industry might offer them after graduation. The crowd is chockful of future architects, HVAC techs, electricians, engineers and…Boilermakers.
This past December, L-627 (Phoenix) and the Western States Joint Apprenticeship Committee put Boilermakers front and center among the outdoor event’s 90-plus exhibitors by signing on as a platinum sponsor.
“Schools have traveled from all over Arizona, as far as 300 miles to attend this event and find out more about a career in construction,” said L-627 BM-ST Jacob Evenson. “It’s the largest construction event that reaches out to high school students throughout the state of Arizona.”
The fair is hosted by the Association for Construction Career Development. Joining the many exhibitors this past year were 13 career and technical education institutions that have welding programs with which L-627 Boilermakers participate, including serving on several of their welding advisory boards. It all added up to a lot of potential exposure for Boilermakers.
In addition to speaking to students about the benefits of a Boilermaker career, L-627 featured a working model crane in their booth for attendees to try. The ACCD encourages exhibitors to include hands-on elements in their displays.
“This event was a great opportunity to present a construction career to the generation that will be entering the Arizona workforce within the next four years,” said Evenson. “With all the union apprenticeship programs represented there, we proved that going into a trade is a valid career—and that quality craftsmanship of the highest standards can accelerate your career equal to any college education.”
