Learning about Pathway for Building Design Careers
Students at Cottonwood High School in the Granite School District went to Weber State University’s Design-Build Day. This virtual event gave them a chance to learn about careers in architecture, engineering, and construction, hear talks from supervisors on job sites, and talk with local industry partners.
Weber's Design-Build Day is an annual event focused bridging the gap between students and industry.
Students filled out a bingo card like this one for the chance to win scholarships and prizes.
USU STARS! GEAR UP partner schools are always looking for activities that give students career education. This year, the Cottonwood GEAR UP team found that and more at Weber's Design-Build Day, held on Mar 5. The annual event focused on career opportunities in architecture, engineering, construction, and other Utah career pathways. Students also gained valuable information through discussions with local business and industry leaders.
Design-Build Day is a partnership with the Utah Architecture, Engineering and Construction Pathway. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development offers the UAEC initiative as a certificate program to help students bridge the gap between school and industry. One program offers students placement as interns with local companies, giving them hands-on applied experience. It also offers classes that start as concurrent enrollment courses, giving students college credit in high school at a highly discounted rate.
The Cottonwood GEAR UP team hosted the virtual event at their school on a distance learning Friday. Even though it was held outside of regular classroom hours, it was well-attended by students from all grades. Recruitment started through email as students in the class of 2021, 2023, and 2024 were invited to attend. Classroom visits by the team targeted with students with an interest in construction or design classes. Finally, the information was shared with all of the 12th grade English classes and many of the 10th grade classes, as well as students visiting the GEAR UP office for scholarship writing and search services.
Fifteen students attended Design-Build Day. Each student filled out a bingo card for the chance to win scholarships and prizes. CHS senior Isaac Gutierrez won one of five scholarships, a $2,000 scholarship to attend Salt Lake Community College in the fall. Other students, seniors, Ruby Amis and Pratima Rai, sophomore Guido Rocha, and freshman Asia Pluas all won $100 gift cards. All of the students received t-shirts for being among the first 500 to register.
Providing scholarships and financial aid information helps students reduce barriers and make informed decisions about their future. In addition to career counseling, the Cottonwood GEAR UP team shares updated and changing information about paying for college. The school actively shares scholarship information on social media and during student interactions.
This information is readily available when students stop by the GEAR UP office or when they meet with Monica Perez, college access advisor at Cottonwood. Interactions such as these provide a great opportunity to ask students about their plans after high school relating to college or training.