Close to 400 students from eight high school technical centers in Vermont gathered at the Montpelier campus of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont this week for the annual AGC/VT Construction Career Day event.

Students had opportunities for several hands-on experiences from operating huge construction machinery to experiencing workplace safety issues such as impaired and distracted driving.

“This event was a huge success,” said Cathy Lamberton, AGC/VT Executive Vice President. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to the many equipment suppliers, the service vendors and the students who came from all corners of the state.”

“The chance to see, touch and learn about a potential life career is priceless,” she said. “Since college may not be either available or of interest to technical school students, our career day event gives them a close up look at what can be a very successful career.”

Students attended from Canaan Memorial Tech Center in the Northeast corner of Vermont and the Stafford Technical Center in Rutland, as well as Barre Technical Center, the Center for Technology in Essex, Cold Hollow Career Center in Enosburg, Green Mountain Technical Center in Hyde Park, Northwest Technical Center in St. Albans, and Randolph Technical Center.

Lamberton said, “One of the most important elements of AGC/VT is the education and training curriculum that covers nearly every aspect of workplace safety, both on the job site and on the highway.” Lamberton went on to say, “Our Construction Career Day event is a major component of that program, focusing on the future leaders in the construction industry.”

Lamberton voiced appreciation for the Technical Center instructors “who look at our program as a meaningful piece of their education plan.”

Lamberton said several equipment suppliers and service vendors expressed appreciation for the event saying it demonstrated a unique awareness of the potential in the future of the Vermont construction industry.