CHS Awarded $500 Grant from Construction Industry

September 24, 2019

Michael Doktor, Clifton High School Principal, and Jody Springer, CHS Guidance Counselor met with Jill Schiff, Executive Director of Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey on September 24, 2019. Ms. Schiff presented CHS with a $500 grant check from the construction industry.

Students from Clifton High School attended the annual Construction Industry Career Day at the end of May 2019. Representatives from industries such as HVAC, plumbers, carpentry, bricklayers, and more spoke with students interested in construction industry careers.

Juniors and seniors throughout New Jersey attended the event. Trade professionals from various labor unions created mock job sites for students to participate in hands-on, interactive experiences within the sector.

The event began in 2001, paused during the recession in 2008, and resumed two years ago. Ms. Schiff noted that this year's Career Day boasted over 75 different school districts in attendance up from about 60 last year.

“You have to introduce them to this in a way that appeals to that generation,” Schiff said. “And our trades go out of their way to do that.”

Gabriel Azcona, a senior at CHS, attended the event in May at the end of his junior year. Gabe spent time with union members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Union Iron Workers. Throughout the day, Gabe learned about their local and international chapters as well as the union benefits. One point of interest, according to Gabe, was the virtual reality demo simulator.

"Overall I met many representatives of these companies and all of them were very informative," commented Gabriel. "It was similar to a social gathering. I have told many friends of this event, and I hope they participate for next year 2020."