By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
CLARKSTON — Firefighters from Independence Township and businesses were on the scene at Clarkston Junior High School during the Clarkston Community Schools’ Clarkston Construction Technology Program’s Trade Days, May 14-16.
Construction Trades Instructor Adam Gorring shared that throughout the three days many of the program’s partners were there as the students worked with heavy equipment and concrete, continued to practice their house build, and see how firefighters work with the construction industry.
Freshman Avery Evans shared it was a great experience especially when the fire department came out.
“They showed us why we do construction the way we do,” she said. “Why we follow fire code so our firefighters can get through when we have accidents or things that could happen. They showed us how they would get into the house, and how they would get out of the house. They set it on fire and showed us what catches on fire and what doesn’t and how it goes up. Then, they put it out.”

She added the students poured concrete on Wednesday around the practice house. They also built a fireplace in the practice house while working on their stone work and brick work.
“The students get a hands on experience instead of looking at houses,” Evans said about the practice house. “We get to build one ourselves. It’s pretty awesome.”
The students also had an opportunity to check how construction is going on the new gymnasium at the junior high.
“It was fantastic,” Gorring said. “When they get a chance to work with industry professionals who are out there.They see what the industry connection is for them where they can say ‘oh this is something I like.’ They can see it from start to finish like they started a fireplace install and a concrete slab going for our exterior. They get to see a very different rate of work – how quickly they work, how efficiently they work. It opens up their eyes to ‘I want to work with this company. What do I have to do?’ They exchange information, talk to them, have resumes ready to go so they can say here ‘I am ready for the summer or graduating and ready to go. They have those connections. They get to see where they stand on skill level, personality, work ethic. It gets them out there and get them working which is what is all about.”
The Clarkston Construction Technology program finished in second place for a silver medal at the 2025 Skills USA Competition in Grand Rapids.
“It was great,” said Gorring. “They did a good job. It was a very good experience for everybody as they continue to learn and grow as a program. We had electrical, plumbing, masonry and framing elements and getting everybody on the next step with those. Our chances were really good this year. Everyone had a good time.”
Students who competed this year were Brendan Verbeke, Austin Godfrey, Jon George and Duncan Ruby who went with teachers Gorring, Neil Granlund, Jayden Wood. The students were evaluated in framing, electrical, plumbing, masonry and ability to work together as a team.
Students were also able to meet industry professionals and pave the way for future career opportunities after graduation.

Gorring shared competing at the event motivates the underclassmen.
“It gives them a good understanding of what they are learning in class,” he said. “There may be a little piece here and a little piece there like here is how you do layout, how measurements work. Those competitions are a great way to see how it all comes together. They see not only the whole process, but someone who is in their class taking all those skills and applying them. Saying you can finish a project in a very short amount of time. You can work to the next level and gain those skills and abilities. It makes it more of a real world application for them.”

  CCS, Clarkston Community Schools, Construction Tech