On Thursday Nov. 30, the ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the completion of the home build built by the construction students here at MSHS. This project is through a program called Careers in Construction, which has been established in several high schools across Colorado. The home build program enabled MSHS students to build a 1200 square foot home with the help of industry professionals.
Careers in Construction Colorado is a non-profit that started in 2015 in just Colorado Springs, but then, in 2019, it expanded across the Front Range. By 2025, CICC plans to enroll 5,000 students in the program and strives to have at least 20% of the student participants also employed.
In addition to the home build program, CCIC allows students to go on job shadows or even internships. Brad Borkowski, the Industrial Technology teacher, has been at MSHS since 2012. The students in his classes can receive real world certifications through his classes. “It is such a great feeling to have the house done,” Borkowski said. “I think it turned out really great and I am so excited to learn from this one to improve the next build. It is really amazing to see what our students were able to accomplish.”
“If you ask the average high school student if they’d like to get involved in the construction industry, they’ve got a very narrow window of what that means because most schools aren’t doing this,” Careers in Construction Executive Director Glenn Hard said. “They don’t realize there are so, so many options. So this program as a whole is great for kids because it allows them to see more opportunities.” Hard was the former Principal of MSHS and is a Manitou Springs High School graduate.
Once the foundation for the home has been built, it will be transported and bought by the Habitat for Humanity. MSHS will then begin another home build. “This not only helps students get interested in a career in construction, but also helps them maintain and work on their own house some day,” Borkowski said.
The ribbon cutting ceremony included remarks from Hard, walkthroughs of the house, music and food. Construction students who contributed to the build were welcomed to join in the event. “You never know what you’ll need and construction just teaches a lot of principles involving wood,” senior Hallen Haile, a principles of construction student, said.
“It’s a collaboration between the industry and schools. So, the Careers in Construction program is the conduit to move kids towards the industry,” Hard said. “It’s the connection between schools and industry that really makes this different from other programs.”
Kolten W • Jan 18, 2024 at 8:35 am
This is a huge accomplishment for all of the students as well as the adults involved. The home build has been sitting by the track for a couple years now and I’ve seen the progression of the house from framing to being finished. This is so valuable for the student’s because they are learning new skills that can follow them through life and maybe help them find a potential career choice.
Gaia D. • Jan 10, 2024 at 3:07 pm
What an incredible opportunity to be apart of! I remember not knowing hardly anything about how the construction of a house takes place. Although, when I took cabinet making and woodworking class back in sophomore year. I ended up leaning more than I ever thought I would. I was part of constructing the foundation of the house. Which was a major part of the house building process. I didn’t continue with the project, but the ability to have a bunch of high school students build something that someone will eventually live in is crazy to me! Congrats to everyone for their hard work on finishing this project.
Ivory • Jan 10, 2024 at 2:00 pm
What a well written article! I think that this article provides information to multiple readers on new ideas and experiences at MSHS. I think that this new accomplished build is the first of many successes that are yet to come in this program and at our school as well. This articles gives transparent successes that have been accomplished with this house build and now it’s finally finished. It shows the excitement without visions of how amazing it is that the house has been finished and new opportunities are to come to high school students all around and not just MSHS
Angela Rowe • Jan 8, 2024 at 2:04 pm
Wow Morgan! Knowing you picked up this story on a late notice, with no one else willing to do it. You really captured the work and meaning that Quinn, Bork, and the students put into building the home build. It provides very useful information, that me who was curious about how they are moving the house, was answered in this article. You did a great job, this article is well written and gives insight on the process and work put into building a house.