Construction Trades Students Donate Garden Bench to Ridge Area ARC

Julia Mercer (seated, left), director of programs and services, and Donna Smolarick (seated, center), director of development, accepted a garden bench on behalf of their organization, Ridge Area Arc, from the students who attended SFSC’s Construction Trades Summer Camp. Bagwell Lumber of Avon Park donated the materials toward the project. Building the garden bench gave the students an opportunity to learn power tool, tape measure reading, plans reading, and teamwork skills. At the same time, they benefited a local non-profit organization. The free Construction Trades Summer Camp attracted 30 students, ages 14-17. They participated in classroom and shop training and earned a Construction Site Safety Certificate from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). In addition, the students were taught leadership, resume writing, and job interview skills. The College intends to offer the Construction Trades Summer Camp again in 2025. For information about any of the Construction Trades programs at SFSC and funding opportunities for job training, see the Construction and Utility Trades Class Catalog on the SFSC website at: https://bit.ly/3DzYoqv, call ext. 7008, or email fred.hayes@southflorida.edu.