Submitted by Carrie Butler

Today’s high school students are faced with many choices, but also a lot of pressure from parents, peers and educators to head straight to college after they take off the graduation cap. It’s no secret that this path isn’t right for everyone, but many students get swept away and maybe waste a year or two before finding their way.

For Julieanna Etter, a recent graduate of Riverview High School, there was never any doubt that she was going to take a different path.

'I have always loved construction and learning the different stages of construction and what goes into all of it,' Etter said.

Etter was part of Riverview’s Construction Academy, designed to prepare high school students for a career in the building industry. Neal Communities, one of the primary funders of the academy, has also given Etter a start in the industry with an internship, working in construction management and warranty.

'The Construction Academy at Riverview High School piqued my interest because I love learning new things,' Etter said. 'I’d say certain aspects of the class were more helpful than others but since I’ve started here at Neal, they’ve filled in all the gaps and broadened my knowledge of the subject. I’ve learned so much from the different people and everyone is just always trying to help me learn more every time they see me. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.'

The Construction Academy was created to help an industry that is in need for current and future workers because of dramatic growth and the increasing number of individuals retiring from the trades. The construction industry will need to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2024 to meet the demand for labor, according to a report by the Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group. In 2025, the industry will need to bring in nearly 454,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand. The report also indicated the industry’s average age of retirement is 61, and more than 1 in 5 workers are currently older than 55.

Over the past two years, Neal has donated $100,000 to the Construction Academy, with the donation spearheaded by Charlene Neal, president of Charlene Neal PureStyle and also a Riverview alum. The Construction Academy incorporates a curriculum from the National Center of Construction Education and Research along with providing hands-on experience for students.

'I have chosen to go straight into the workforce instead of college or schooling,' Etter said. 'I’m more of a hands-on worker and like going straight into my field of work and learning how everyone manages their workload and taking tips from everyone to find my rhythm.'