SANFORD, N.C. - Students, parents and education leaders gathered at a local construction company on May 31 for an orientation session and signing ceremony that kicked off the 2023 Sanford Contractors Construction Academy, the latest in a series of innovative opportunities to help area high school students find lucrative and rewarding careers.

Sanford Contractors Construction Academy was created by Sanford Contractors, a family owned and operated company formed more than 50 years ago and currently involved in bridge construction, commercial buildings, site development and utility construction. The academy is a partnership with Central Carolina Community College, Lee County Schools and the North Carolina Community College System.

Twelve students were selected through a competitive application process to become the first class in what has been called a "learn and earn experience" -- one that combines classroom studies with paid, on-the-job training.

Speaking to families sitting at lines of tables in a large meeting room, Sanford Contractors Development Director Zac West said that 50 students were originally interested in the academy and more than 30 applied for eight to 10 spots. As the application process unfolded, the company decided to expand that number.

"The reason that we have 12 is that we were impressed with how these individuals presented themselves to us," he said. "They showed up. They answered our questions. They asked questions. And they showed a genuine desire to want to be here and want to do this kind of work."

After one initial week of classroom instruction focused on work and safety, students will continue through mid-August on construction crews. Each week begins with one day of classroom instruction before moving into the field to work on a wide range of construction projects and company support services.

Students are paid for their construction work -- receiving an hourly rate between $13 and $14, based on experience, with opportunities for overtime pay and bonuses for not missing classroom instruction. When they complete the academy, students also will receive credit for two college continuing education courses and credit toward a formal apprenticeship, which is one option for how this academy might transform in the future.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman, one of the education leaders attending the ceremony, believes this kind of cooperative venture is essential to any community's success in an intensely competitive economic environment. "Work-based learning is critically important in meeting current and future workforce needs, and success is dependent on active, ongoing engagement of all partners," she said. "We all believe in these students and are committed to supporting them."

Innovative partnerships are nothing new to this area. CCCC and Lee County Schools broke new ground with Caterpillar Inc. more than a decade ago to create the Caterpillar Youth Apprenticeship in Welding -- a novel idea at the time that was quickly praised by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation as a "partnership worth repeating."

Dr. Chris Dossenbach, interim superintendent for Lee County Schools, said that ongoing success has proven that partnerships with companies like Caterpillar and Sanford Contractors can elevate everyone and will only become more important in years to come.

"Continuing to expand school and business partnerships are essential as our community continues to thrive and grow," he said. "Through our ongoing collaboration with CCCC and the support of Sanford Contractors, we are very excited for our students, their families and our community as we work together to meet the workforce needs of Lee County."

As the information portion of the evening ceremony came to a close -- and before students shifted to taking celebratory photos and completing paperwork -- Sanford Contractors President Donnie Oldham stepped forward to congratulate students and explain to everyone what career opportunities are currently available in the construction industry, highlighting things like a good wage and the chance for workers to return decades later to see still standing what they once built with their own hands.

"[Company interviewers] saw something in you that made you rise to the top," he said, commending the new academy students. "So, don't disappoint. Your reputation is on the line!"

The 2023 Sanford Contractors Construction Academy inductees are:

• Lee County High School: Rylan Beal, Johnny O'Connor, Luke Pilson, Andrew Quezada, Jesus Salvador, Chris Stone, Drew Thomas and Jackson Wells.
• Southern Lee High School: Carlos Fontanez Fantauzzi, Aaron Perez and Cam West.
• Lee Christian School: Isaac Moore.