The Alaska Contractor - Summer 2008

Juneau’s “in school” program of the Juneau Construction
Academy, served more than 422 students in construction and
construction-related classes this school year. These classes included:
Creative Woods, Computer-Assisted Drafting, Basic Construction,
Metals and Small Engine Repair. Some 43 students participated in after
school classes in Basic Construction, Computer-Assisted Drafting and Welding.
In February, a select team of five Juneau Douglas High School students won
first place in the National Residential Construction Competition in Orlando, Fla.
(See Alaska Contractor Spring 2008, Pg. 69)
The Southeast Regional Resource Center, SERRC, facilitated the adult training
program. SERRC screened 98 applicants and trained 32 adults in Basic Construction,
Drywall, Welding, Plumbing and Heating, First Aid and CPR, OSHA 10,
Scaffolding and Forklift Safety classes. Training was coordinated with UAS-Juneau,
BY CARIN SMOLIN
Adult student Alphonozo Hampton grinding
away in the academy’s welding program. He is
now employed with Channel Construction at
the Greens Creek Mine.
Alaska Works Partnership and local
unions. The program provided assistance
with job placement and apprenticeship
applications. Charlie Carlson is
the SERRC admissions coordinator.
As a residential contractor and former
SEABIA president, Russ McDougal has
already experienced the benefit of hiring
a Construction Academy graduate.
“I was very pleased with his attitude,
desire to learn and his work ethic,”
he said.
Juneau Construction Academy partners
include the Juneau School District,
SERRC, UAS-Juneau AWP, AGC of
Alaska, Southeast Alaska Building Industry
Association, Alaska Department
of Labor and Workforce Development,
Alaska Plumbers and Pipefitters Local
262 and Juneau Building Trades Council/IBEW
1547.
Carin Smolin is the career and technical
education coordinator for the Juneau School
District.
Bob Hammer,
president of the
Alaska State Home
BY BARB ROPER
Building Association,
ASHBA, and a Kenai contractor,
remembers a time when vocational
education students built an entire
house with the guidance of a master
journeyman in the construction trades.
That memory has become a vision
for the future as Construction Academy
partners work together to bring
hands-on construction training to the
Kenai Peninsula.