MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Northern Michigan University held their 7th Women in Construction Day!
NMU has been hosting Women in Construction Day since 2017 with the hopes to introduce more women to the trades industry. Event leaders stress that there is a place for women in this field and that the industry has a large range of work you can be successful in.
The event is sponsored by a number of organization throughout the industry, these sponsors provide the funding necessary for this event to be free for all students who attend.
“We want everybody to come, this is an opportunity to not take an entire semester of a class if your not sure that you like it,” said Heidi Blanck, Professor of construction management at NMU. “But have that one day activity to help you see if you like it or not.”
NMU offers high school level girls the opportunity to have hands on experience in welding, construction management, and woodworking. These activities show them that they are fully capable of doing these things and gives them a glance into the industry.
“This is something that they can do,” said Blanck. “This is not a male only career anymore and we are really trying to change that landscape through these events.”
Women in Construction day brought in about 70 students this year all able to try new experience with the help of around 60 volunteers from the industry.
“As a school and as an industry we are continually interested in improving ourselves so we are improving education for these students as well,” said Blanck.
Schools that attended include Ishpeming High school, Jackson College, L’Anse High School, Marquette Alternative High School, Marquette Senior High School, Negaunee High School, North Star Academy, Superior Central, and Westwood High School.
