'It Was Interesting To Take This Class': Union Adds Courses To Construction Program

Union has had a construction program for about five years. Still, there was a big push to get more students to learn specialized skills in electrical and air conditioning courses that would transfer to the workforce after graduation.

The courses were launched at the beginning of the school year with 12 students participating in the air conditioning cohort and 12 students in electrical construction.

Union said this partnership gives students the chance to take the classes and earn up to 15 college credit hours at the OSU Institute of Technology or take the skills they've learned into the workforce.

OSU IT provides the instructors, while Union and the Hardesty Family Foundation provide the materials.

Kenneth Moore, with Union Public Schools, said the goal is to help address a shortage of construction workers in the Tulsa area.

"Everything we do with our workforce development efforts is really focused on being responsive to industry demand," Moore said. "So, talking with our industry partners about where these specific shortages are. This program is just a great example of that."

Union said students have been excited to get to work in these fields and that there is a possibility that the program could expand to include more students in the future.

Manuel Sigala is a senior enrolled in the program and said that when he heard about the new electrical and air conditioning courses, he had an immediate interest.

Sigala said he doesn't see himself going to college or working in an office job and believes this program gives students another option and proves there are industries out there that need the same type of skills.

"We also need people to work out in the construction to build houses. You know, numbers are going down, so I just thought it was interesting to take this class to get to know a little bit more about construction and what I want to do later on," Sigala said.

He said that even if he doesn't end up in the electrical or air conditioning field, he can at least apply the skills he's learned to his home instead of paying someone else to look into a problem for him.