Page 14 - TTMNSpring2026

Construction
Page 14 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

St Cloud State University

Scholarships for students: TEC Network Technical Careers for Today
The program is offering five $1,000 The TEC Network (Technology, Engi- and Tomorrow
scholarships each year for students attending neering & Careers) is all about building
St. Cloud State University majoring in Con- partnerships with school and businesses Undergraduate Programs:
struction Management, Technology Education around the state. Each school selected to • Construction Management
or Manufacturing Engineering Technology. be a part of the Technology Network will • Technology Education
To apply, scan the QR code. engages in: • Technology Management
1. Equipment access — nearly $2 million • Manufacturing Engineering Technology
in equipment
2. Professional development — summer Graduate Programs:
and teachers. Materials, tools and supplies are workshops and online courses • Technology Education
all provided by the TEC Network as part of the 3. Program review — Enhance your • Career and Technical Education (CTE)
ACE project. No cost to the school or teacher. program • Work Based Learning
Implementing the ACE program in your 4. Advisory board support — learn how For additional information:
school will teach your students how to create we can support your connections to • SCSU-Construction Management:
NC code to machine five parts. Students will businesses CM@stcloudstate.edu
create G and M code from predesigned parts
ACE CNC Training in Fusion 360. From there, students will learn 5. Program enhancement plan — dis- • SCSU-Technology Education:
trict will determine items needed
Would you like to teach entry-level CNC the operation of Haas or Forest Scientific TechEd@stcloudstate.edu
machining? Are you looking for a challenging CNC mills. Upon completion, the parts can be Mike from Maple River noted: • SCSU-Manufacturing Engineering
project that prepares students for a manufac- assembled to produce an air-operated motor, “Our local Perkins consortium used funds Technology: MFET@stcloudstate.edu
turing career? Do you want to teach machining similar to the internals of any air-operated for the next 5 years to help join the SCSU TEC • SCSU-Career & Technical Education:
but don’t have access to CNC mills? St. Cloud tool. It’s a real project with real working parts program. This has been the best thing to ever CTE@stcloudstate.edu
State University will be offering another ACE that can be completed at the high school level happen to our program. I always tell local • SCSU-Work Based Learning: WBL@
training bootcamp July 27–31, 2026. successfully. community members it is like joining a block- stcloudstate.edu
After successful completion of the train- Teachers looking at implementation in buster for shop equipment. The TEC program
ing, instructors will have access to Haas and their classes should plan on two to three weeks has allowed our students to experience a CNC Kurt Helgeson, krhelgeson@stcloud-
Forest Scientific CNC mills in their own of Fusion 360 training in the classroom, fol- router, virtual welder, virtual painter, and later state.edu, 320-308-3127
schools. The TEC Network of SCSU will lowed by two to three weeks of operating the this year and CNC plasma cutter. My first 10
deliver portable CNC mills to school shops CNC mills in the lab. Machines are 208-240 V, years of teaching no students were able to
and labs for several weeks’ use by students single or three phase and will require a com- experience this technology.”
pressed air supply.

Bemidji High School’s Construction Program Continued from Page 10
between classes. They spend several former BHS students who participated Advice for Schools Looking to Start a
about 60 minutes on-site, in the program are now continuing their con-
after which the next group struction education at the college level. Similar Program
of students picks up where The success of the BHS Construction
the last left off, creating a Strength in Community Support Program is deeply rooted in the expertise of
continuous, collaborative The program thrives thanks to a wide its educators and the strength of its partner-
workflow. network of community partners—from local ships. For schools looking to start or expand
lumber yards and cabinet manufacturers to their own student construction programs, the
Focused on Real-World excavators, trade unions, and parents. Many message is clear:
Experience former students, now working profession- “You need an instructor with extensive
The primary mission als in the trades, have returned to support the knowledge of home construction—someone
of the BHS Construction program that helped shape their careers. who understands the field and can lead stu-
Program is to prepare stu- In 2024, BHS received a $25,000 grant dents safely and effectively. Just as important
dents for success—whether from a global HVAC and plumbing supplier, is building a strong network of community and
they enter the trades or in partnership with Exploring the Trades, to industry partners who can provide materials,
simply learn valuable life build a skills lab that expands student train- mentorship, and support.”
was originally launched in 1994 when former skills. Not every student will pursue a career in ing in HVAC systems. Additionally, through Ultimately, students need ownership of
HRDC’s guidance, the school applied for and
BHS teacher Ron LeClaire, with help from construction, but all gain practical experience was awarded a Minnesota Housing grant to the experience. While some choose specific
former HRDC Executive Director Tim Flath- and exposure to career possibilities they may support the 2025–26 home build. These funds tasks that interest them, all are encouraged to
ers and Habitat for Humanity, secured the initial not have previously considered. will go toward purchasing building materials engage in every phase of the build. The result
grant funding. Since then, students have built “There are so many potential careers in and tools to further enhance the student learn- is a sense of pride and confidence that carries
over 60 homes in the Bemidji area—each one construction that students don’t know exist. We ing experience. well beyond graduation.
providing new educational opportunities and a aim to not only teach them how to build, but to As workforce conversations across the
tangible impact on the community. show them that there are high-paying, mean- country increasingly emphasize the value of
Each year features a new house plan to ingful jobs in the trades,” one instructor shared. trades, this program stands out as a proven
broaden the range of student experiences. Loca- Over the past seven years, the program’s scope model for how education, community, and
tions are carefully selected within 10 minutes has grown to include deeper involvement industry partnerships can converge to empower www.bemidji.k12.mn.us
of the school to allow students to easily rotate with technical training, thanks to the partner-
ship with the technical college. Impressively, the next generation.