The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has teamed up with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the University of Rhode Island Transportation Center (URITC) to host the 13th Annual Construction Career Days event.
Construction Career Days will be held on Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25, 2013 at RIDOT's Midstate Maintenance Facility, 2400 New London Turnpike in East Greenwich. This two-day event, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., provides high school students hands-on training in the transportation trades. Approximately 1,600 students from over 30 technical and high schools from Block Island to Woonsocket are expected to attend. These students represent the pool of workers from which the construction industry will recruit its workforce. Annually, there is a national need to fill 250,000 job openings in the construction industry.
For the 4th year in row, the event will feature a bridge building competition sponsored by the URITC, Rhode Island Consulting Engineers (RICE) and RIDOT. Prior to the event, local schools were encouraged to participate by working as a team to design and build a bridge out of balsa wood. At the event, the bridges will be tested for strength and judged by members of RICE. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place based on the amount of weight held and the cost of construction.
The event also will feature a truck simulator whose console has wrap-around screens and the same steering wheel, pedals and transmission shifter found in large trucks. The simulator is programmed so the students can "drive" a variety of trucks such as snowplows, box trucks, fire trucks and city buses. Students will also be able to operate a wide range of construction equipment such as backhoes, excavators, pavers and bucket trucks. Inside the Midstate facility, there will be a variety of booths and tables to showcase welding, plumbing, electrical, landscaping and other disciplines. Also representatives from colleges and universities, as well as municipalities and the construction and engineering sector, will be in attendance.
Anticipated schools and dates of attendance include:
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 1. Barrington: Barrington High School 2. Chepachet: Harmony Hill School 3. Cranston: Cranston Charter/NELCPS 4. Cranston: Cranston High School East 5. East Greenwich: East Greenwich High School 6. East Providence: Bradley Hospital/CADD School* 7. Exeter: Exeter Job Corps Academy* 8. Harrisville: Burrillville High School* 9. Johnston: Johnston High School 10. Lincoln: Lincoln High School Transition Program 11. North Kingstown: North Kingstown High School 12. North Scituate: Scituate High School 13. North Smithfield: North Smithfield High School* 14. Pawtucket: Northern Rhode Island Collaborative 15. Pawtucket: Shea Senior High School* 16. Portsmouth: Portsmouth High School 17. Providence: Central High School* 18. Providence: High Road School of Providence 19. Providence: Ocean Tides School 20. Providence: Paul Cuffee High School* 21. Providence: Providence Career & Technical Academy* 22. Providence: The College Crusade of Rhode Island 23. Providence: The Metropolitan Career & Technical Center* 24. Tiverton: Tiverton High School* 25. Warren: East Bay Career Academy 26. Warwick: Warwick Veterans Memorial High School 27. Warwick: West Bay Educational Collaborative 28. West Greenwich: Exeter/West Greenwich High School 29. West Warwick: Briggs Community Partnership (at Maise E. Quinn)* 30. Wood River Junction: Chariho Career & Technical Center* 31. Woonsocket: Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center
* Denotes participation in the bridge building competition.
Thursday, April 25, 2013 1. Block Island: Block Island School* 2. Bristol: Mt. Hope High School 3. Central Falls: Central Falls High School/Goodwill Ind. 4. Coventry: Coventry High School – Regional Career & Technical Center 5. Cranston: Ace Academy 6. Cranston: Cranston Area Career & Technical Center* 7. Cranston: Cranston Charter /NELCPS 8. Cumberland: Cumberland High School 9. Johnston: Johnston High School* 10. Lincoln: Spurwink School* 11. Lincoln: William M. Davies Career & Technical School 12. Narragansett: Narragansett High School 13. Newport: Newport Area Career & Technical Center 14. North Providence: North Providence High School 15. North Providence: Tri-Town Community Action* 16. North Scituate: Ponagansett High School* 17. North Scituate: Scituate High School* 18. Pawtucket: William E. Tolman High School* 19. Providence: Building Futures 20. Providence: CCAP – Learn to Earn: Skills Center 21. Providence: Mt. Pleasant High School 22. Providence: The College Crusade of Rhode Island 23. Providence: The Metropolitan Regional Career & Technical Center* 24. Providence: The Providence Center School* 25. Providence: Youthbuild Providence 26. Seekonk: MTTI/South Coast Educational Collaborative 27. Smithfield: Smithfield High School* 28. Wakefield: South Kingstown High School 29. Warwick: The Eleanor Biggs School* 30. Warwick: Toll Gate High School* 31. Warwick: Warwick Area Career & Technical Center 32. West Greenwich: Exeter/West Greenwich High School 33. West Warwick: West Warwick High School 34. Woonsocket: Beacon Charter Hill School
* Denotes participation in the bridge building competition.
Additional Construction Career Day sponsors include Construction Industries of Rhode Island, New England Laborers Tri Funds, Local 57 Operating Engineers, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Rhode Island Public Works Association, Rhode Island Builders Association, and the Rhode Island Technology Transfer Center.
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Contact: Heidi Gudmundson (401) 222-1362, Ext. 4009