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Local contractors and Pratt & Whitney back CTAE skills challenge, say trades offer strong career paths
Summary
Industry partners and Pratt & Whitney presented the Muscogee County School Board with a recap of a district skills challenge for career, technical, and agricultural education (CTAE) students, including scholarships, employer commitments and a push to expand construction and trade pipelines.
Representatives of the construction industry, Freeman & Associates and Pratt & Whitney told the Muscogee County School Board on May 19 that local employers are investing in CTAE programs to bolster a local pipeline for skilled trades and allied industries.
Industry partners presented results from a November skills challenge and told the board that the event hosted 82 student competitors and 90 student observers, and gathered about $40,000 in combined cash and in-kind contributions to support students and programs. The presentation included a video and recognition of Muscogee County competitors.
David Hawkins, executive vice president at Freeman and Associates, and Mary Cawthorn, the firm’s marketing director, described the skills challenge as an industry effort to expose students to construction and trade careers. Zach Fields of the Association of General Contractors and other industry representatives said the local construction sector faces a workforce shortfall and urged more attention to high school career pathways. One presenter summarized industry data this way: for every four construction workers who retire, the industry has about one new entrant.
Speakers tied the CTAE work to both immediate opportunities and longer-term workforce needs. Metro Power representatives said they recently hired graduating seniors directly from local high schools and that their company will sponsor Department of Labor certificates for interns. The firms also presented checks to two CTAE teachers identified as Mr. Graham and Mr. Robbins in recognition of their work supporting students in trade skills.
Pratt & Whitney representatives described a 10-week engineering mentorship that paired Pratt engineers with students building gravity and electric vehicles; company staff and local volunteers served as mentors for the River City Gravity Race and related STEM events. Katrina Sabino of Pratt & Whitney said the student experience was “phenomenal” and urged board support for continued partnership.
Board members and presenters emphasized that careers in skilled trades can pay competitively without a four-year degree. A presenter cited comparative figures — an “average college graduate” at about $35,000 and an average skilled trade worker at about $65,000 per year — to illustrate the economic case for alternative career pathways.
The presentation concluded with industry partners thanking teachers and the district and inviting schools and students to participate in future events. There was no formal board vote tied to the presentation; the materials and partner recognitions were presented for information and to strengthen local employer-school connections.
