SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls School District is helping female students pursue careers in construction.
Hundreds of area middle school girls received hands-on experience during Thursday’s Pizza, Pop and Power Tools event at the CTE Academy in Sioux Falls.
Students received experience with power tools, concrete, tiling, welding and even heavy machinery.
“They’re getting to learn from experts and hear about their careers and their journeys,” organizer Justin Rey said.
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Eighth-grader Ava Johnson was especially excited to learn something new.
“My dad’s a welder, so I think it’s really interesting learning about that stuff and wanting to become like him,” Johnson said.
Washington High School senior Morgan Berry took part in this event back when she was in middle school.
“When I was in eighth grade, I came over here and did it. I did a birdhouse. The guy that I did it with was super supportive, and I just kind of fell in love with welding. I started that at my home school, still enjoyed it, went on to the CTE Academy and here I am,” Berry said.
As she was teaching girls how to weld, Berry hoped she could encourage others to pursue a career in the trades.
“I just really want them to know that they’re not alone. It’s kind of easy for me to be like, ‘Hey, you’re good. I wear my nails. We can still be girls, and we can still be in this man’s field,'” Berry said.
All to help the girls understand that construction is for them, too.
“As we know, in the Sioux Falls area, the construction and work is just very rapid and growing in our area and throughout the state of South Dakota. Women are in a great position where they can step in and be a key part of the workforce,” Rey said.
“There’s so few women in the industry. I’m the only woman in my class and we’re pretty good at it. I mean, we always need more people, and it’s always good to have diversity,” Berry said.
The School District also partnered with Associated General Contractors of South Dakota and the Sioux Falls chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction for the event.
