Page 12 - MTWISummer2024

CTE / Construction
Page 12 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Stadium renovation Project Expands Knight Construction Curriculum

working with Boldt Company to enhance for years to come,” shares Program Leader
the main entrance to the stadium and build Matt Lonergan. “It’s cool that even after
a new multi-use building. The new build- we graduate, we get to be a part of the
ing, which will replace the aging pole barn, school for years and years to come,” Sch-
will provide much-needed storage and team weitzer explains. “I’m excited to be part of
meeting space for several high school ath- this project and get first-hand experience
letic teams, clubs, and youth programs. working on different parts of this project,”
Students were able to work alongside senior Carson Aalderks adds. Both Sch-
professionals as they learned a variety of weitzer and Aalderks are members of the
skills, including setting masonry blocks, Knight Construction crew and plan to
setting trusses, roofing, installing windows pursue a career in construction after gradu-
and doors, painting, electrical, and plumb- ation.
ing. “It will be helpful to have both
residential and commercial experience
as we move forward to pursue our future
careers,” shares senior Jersey Schweitzer. www.ocfsd.org
“Not only does this project expand the
Knight Construction program to include
Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District shovel at the groundbreaking ceremony for commercial experience, it also offers our
Last October, a crew of Knight Con- the Knights Community Stadium Renova- students an opportunity to help build some-
struction students from Oak Creek High tion Project. thing that will be part of the OCHS campus
School (OCHS) were the first to turn the Knight Construction students were

Wisconsin Students Build Stadium Facility, Launch Careers

At the ribbon-cutting, Martin
said he was proud of the graduat-
ing class.
“Knight Construction usually
builds a house every year, so this
was a one-off,” Martin said. “I
would hope any school gets the
opportunity to get exposure to
commercial construction, even on
the smaller side.”
Under the Knight Construc-
tion Program, students learned
different construction disciplines from build this with the kids,” he added.
masonry to electrical work and found life The carpenters’ union also gets returns
skills such as teamwork and problem solving, from connecting teens with careers, said Doug
school officials said. JLA Architects provided Volland, a representative for the NCSRCC.
design services for the stadium project. “This is a career path that requires no
Martin is also the president of the Oak student debt, no student loans,” Volland said.
Creek Youth Football program and came up with “It’s a meaningful career and in-demand
By Ethan Duran for The Daily Reporter start full-time work when they graduate in the idea for a new building with Scott Holler, career. It comes with family supporting wages
Fifteen Oak Creek High School students June. the school athletic director, after seeing another and benefits. What could be better for a young
on Thursday cut the ribbon to the new stadium “[My parents] are extremely proud of school pull off a similar project. “I jokingly said, man or young woman who wants to have a
entrance they helped build and celebrated me,” said Sobieski, 17. He and other Oak ‘Do you know what I do for a living?’ We can career path right out of high school?”
three students who signed onto employment Creek students worked with Boldt to construct
with Appleton-based The Boldt Co. a new entrance and multi-use building at the
Deklan Sobieski, Adam Snead and Tegan Knights Community Stadium at Oak Creek
Henderson signed up to work for Boldt as High School. Sobieski said he heard about the
members of the North Central States Regional Knight Construction Program from a friend
Council of Carpenters (NCSRCC). They will and added he did a little bit of everything on
the job site.
“Today was a big deal for me. It was
relieving to know that I have a job and can
go somewhere after high school,” Sobieski
said, “and not stress about what I will be
doing.”
The project replaced an old pole barn
with a single-story storage building for several
high school teams, explained Adam Martin,
the project manager with Boldt. The project
broke ground in fall 2023 and was completed
after seven months.