'Building' a bright future: Muskego student begins carpentry career on his own school's construction project

 

MUSKEGO, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The end of the school year means the beginning of new paths for students. 

Some will be tossing their caps and heading off to college. Others will jump into jobs right away.

In Muskego, a couple of incoming seniors will get an early taste of their future.

At a ceremony Wednesday, two Muskego High School students signed on to work with C.G. Schmidt Construction, starting this summer.

"Career Signing Day is kind of recognizing our solution and the state's solution towards the workforce crisis and the skills gap," said Jim Michlig, a coordinator at Muskego High School's Connect Academy program.  "You don't have to go to a four-year school to get career advancement for your next step."

Connect Academy offers career-based learning opportunities through business partnerships.

"Next year I'll be working in the mornings and doing school, and then after the school year, I'll be starting a career," said incoming senior, Josh Radovich.

Connect Academy's partnership with C.G. Schmidt Construction is how Josh became interested in carpentry.

"He's going to be a carpenter pre-apprentice, so he'll be working with the carpenters. He'll have a mentor," said Steve Flores, a general superintendent with C.G. Schmidt.

Josh's first project with the team will be right in the backyard of his own high school.

"It's kind of like a sense of pride with the school, like in 15 years, I can say I built part of the school here," Josh said. 

He will lend a hand to Muskego High's addition construction project as a paid union worker. 

"Hopefully, Josh will be an ambassador for us, and tell the other kids, hey, this is a possibility," Flores said.

Josh's experience will serve as an example to students that with hard work, they can dig up the perfect opportunity.

"There's no right or wrong answer. It's just discovering what your path is going to be," Michlig said.