Kelli Deveaux, Staff Writer
Caption: Some of the 35 GHS students sporting their new hardhats, required on the “jobsite” of Construction Careers Day
Credit: Michelle Bourget
As part of Aspire Gorham, 35 lucky Gorham High School students recently got hands-on experience with myriad jobs and skills required in the construction and trade industries in Maine.
Armed with swag and exciting interactive activities, industry leaders large and small took time out of their day to engage with and recruit students from across Southern Maine. The annual Maine Construction Careers Day is hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction on the campus of MidCoast Maine Excavation in West Bath. The day is designed to inspire and equip the next generation of construction professionals.
The Gorham students were among a record 1,000 registered students from high schools across the state, where they interacted with over 50 construction career-related exhibitors, showcasing the industry’s vast opportunities. Exhibitors included Bath Iron Works (BIW), Central Maine Power (CMP), Great Falls Construction, and S.W. Cole Engineering, to name a few. All underscored the construction sector’s critical need for diverse, skilled talent, with Maine’s construction workforce projected to continue to grow over the next decade amid booming infrastructure projects.
When asked why she went, Cameryn Allen, a Gorham High School Grade 9 student said, “My dad works for a construction company, and I always thought what he does is interesting, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do yet. I was doing some research in my intro to tech class, and I thought maybe electricity or carpentry was most interesting to me, but going on the trade trip made me realize that my number one interest right now is construction.”
Alexia Lowell, also a grade 9 GHS student, wanted to go on the trip because civil engineering has been a big interest for her, as she really likes math and science.
“Construction has also been an interest, because every time I see a construction site, I don’t see a lot of girls working there,” she noted. “I think that the most amazing thing [about the experience] was seeing how many opportunities that there are for high school students. And the exhibitors showed everything they do, which was really interesting, and you could see how they love their job.”
Kelly Flagg, Gorham resident and executive director of Associated General Contractors of Maine (AGC Maine) , added, ” The students who joined us left inspired, informed, and ready to step into roles that will shape Maine for generations. We hope they will choose to take the next step and apply for our Maine Construction Academy Immersion Programs offered across the state. These programs will provide a deeper dive into construction and provide basic certifications to start their careers.”
Last summer, 18 students accessed the program that was offered here in Gorham in partnership with AGC Maine, the Aspire Program, and area industry leaders. The program will be offered again in the summer of 2026.