RA-LIN CONSTRUCTION INTERNSHIP BUILDING STUDENT SKILLS
CARROLLTON, GA – Two generations ago, a skilled craftsman could make enough money to earn a living to support his family. A generation later it became a little more difficult, and today, a virtual impossibility. Though noble professions, jobs in the trades slowly gave way to other options for young families, creating a crisis in the construction industry searching for quality employees.
Ben Garrett, president of locally-based construction company RA-LIN and Associates, knows all too well how this scenario has played out. Through the relationship RA-LIN already had with Carrollton City Schools as the general contractor of the system’s recent high school replacement project, he shared his laments one day with Supt. Dr. Mark Albertus a few years ago.
“I talked to him about the challenge our industry was up against,” said Garrett. “We discussed how high school graduates who had no plans of going to college were at a disadvantage in finding work because they were unskilled. Our industry was in desperate need of quality tradesmen but there were none to be found.”
Albertus took Garrett’s words to heart and discussed options with Carrollton High School Principal David Brooks and Ian Lyle, the school’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education director. They discussed how, after years of educational institutions focusing on the academics of college, the pendulum was swinging back to valuing training in the trades as well.
“While most students at Carrollton High School do attend some form of college, there are still those students who graduate and enter the workforce right after high school,” Albertus said. “By exploring more options such as this internship program, we are expanding the potential of all of our graduates.”
Fast forward a couple of years and a partnership between RA-LIN and Carrollton High School is trying to address this goal through a hands-on internship program for 10 CHS juniors and seniors.
Lyle said for the inaugural year students were hand-picked and interviewed for the available slots based on their interests and innate abilities discovered through YouScience, an assessment program that evaluates these traits.
The students who ultimately decided the internship might lead to a respectable career path hopped on a school bus to the RA-LIN job site for the first two blocks of class every day, Monday through Friday. The cohort just finished its first semester with not only newly developed skill sets, but a portfolio of projects that may help jump-start a future career, thanks to the guidance of Chris Stone, the instructor.
Garrett said Stone, director of Field Operations for RA-LIN, was the perfect choice to lead the program.
“Chris is a natural,” said Garrett, noting Stone’s years of mentoring and teaching RA-LIN field workers would transfer well to an internship program. “He was made for this job.”
“My role as instructor, curriculum writer and cheerleader is one that I take pride in filling,” said Stone. “Being in a position to pass along the little tricks of the trade is a role I never imagined. The time I spend with these students every day, modeling and practicing trade skills, is the highlight of my day – especially when watching their light bulbs glow when a concept hits home.”
Stone said the focus of the program is for students to learn the basic skills of as many construction trades as time allows in the given school year. He said the students also have been exposed to vocabulary they’ve never heard of and quickly learned understanding math is indeed a necessary part of the job.
“The first concentration was on basic carpentry skills since these talents will be used in whatever direction the lads pursue,” said Stone.
Strengths of the program are the field site opportunities the students experience so they can develop first-hand knowledge about construction situations that can't be conveyed effectively in a classroom.
“Having a bus available to transport the group to local job sites and vendor locations to watch and study first hand the trade we are discussing is a priceless advantage,” said Stone.
Over the course of the semester, the interns developed the myriad skills needed to complete a West Georgia Habitat for Humanity house in West Carrollton. With the help of Habitat volunteers, the goal was to have the house finished by the end of the year. The grateful family was able to move in just before Christmas.
In addition to working on the Habitat house, the interns also competed in a Skills USA competition with senior Luis Lopez capturing a region championship in carpentry, beating out competitors from 10 other northwest Georgia high schools. The interns plan to participate in similar events next semester, too.
The program is also gaining notoriety in the construction industry and educational circles. The internship was recently featured in a Georgia School Boards Association magazine for the program's efforts working with school district College and Career academies to show them how the CHS internship works.
But the real test of success can be found in the words of the interns themselves: Mason Covell, Nickolas Herren, Jacob Hubbard, Kameron Ingram, Luis Lopez, Orlyn Montufar, Jose Navas, Bryson Owens, Mason Villa and Austin Wisener.
“This has been a very good learning experience so far,” said senior Mason Covell. “The basics of general construction is a very useful tool to obtain in life. Mr. Stone has been a very helpful instructor and I plan to learn the most I can learn throughout the year.”
Junior Bryson Owens agreed. “I learn new things every day and look forward to going every day,” said Bryson. “Mr. Stone is an amazing teacher who goes in depth on every subject and answers every question. I feel this class will always help me in life and I really enjoy it.”
Nickolas Herren, another junior, sees the internship as an opportunity. “This class has taught me things I could have never learned on my own,” said Nickolas. “I am excited to look back after this year is over and remember what all I learned. I am so thankful to be presented with such a great opportunity and I am gonna make the best of it.”
Stone, who has been in the construction business for four decades, is the Yoda-like mentor sharing his knowledge of the trades with others who have an interest and possible future in the industry. He says he sees the Habitat home as a special bonding project for the 10 teen-age boys who learned the culture of teamwork and brotherhood found in the field.
“This permanent home for a family will be a source of pride for these boys years from now,” said Stone. “They will have a physical reminder of what they learned in the fall of 2019.”
Ben Garrett, president of locally-based construction company RA-LIN and Associates, knows all too well how this scenario has played out. Through the relationship RA-LIN already had with Carrollton City Schools as the general contractor of the system’s recent high school replacement project, he shared his laments one day with Supt. Dr. Mark Albertus a few years ago.
“I talked to him about the challenge our industry was up against,” said Garrett. “We discussed how high school graduates who had no plans of going to college were at a disadvantage in finding work because they were unskilled. Our industry was in desperate need of quality tradesmen but there were none to be found.”
Albertus took Garrett’s words to heart and discussed options with Carrollton High School Principal David Brooks and Ian Lyle, the school’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education director. They discussed how, after years of educational institutions focusing on the academics of college, the pendulum was swinging back to valuing training in the trades as well.
“While most students at Carrollton High School do attend some form of college, there are still those students who graduate and enter the workforce right after high school,” Albertus said. “By exploring more options such as this internship program, we are expanding the potential of all of our graduates.”
Fast forward a couple of years and a partnership between RA-LIN and Carrollton High School is trying to address this goal through a hands-on internship program for 10 CHS juniors and seniors.
Lyle said for the inaugural year students were hand-picked and interviewed for the available slots based on their interests and innate abilities discovered through YouScience, an assessment program that evaluates these traits.
The students who ultimately decided the internship might lead to a respectable career path hopped on a school bus to the RA-LIN job site for the first two blocks of class every day, Monday through Friday. The cohort just finished its first semester with not only newly developed skill sets, but a portfolio of projects that may help jump-start a future career, thanks to the guidance of Chris Stone, the instructor.
Garrett said Stone, director of Field Operations for RA-LIN, was the perfect choice to lead the program.
“Chris is a natural,” said Garrett, noting Stone’s years of mentoring and teaching RA-LIN field workers would transfer well to an internship program. “He was made for this job.”
“My role as instructor, curriculum writer and cheerleader is one that I take pride in filling,” said Stone. “Being in a position to pass along the little tricks of the trade is a role I never imagined. The time I spend with these students every day, modeling and practicing trade skills, is the highlight of my day – especially when watching their light bulbs glow when a concept hits home.”
Stone said the focus of the program is for students to learn the basic skills of as many construction trades as time allows in the given school year. He said the students also have been exposed to vocabulary they’ve never heard of and quickly learned understanding math is indeed a necessary part of the job.
“The first concentration was on basic carpentry skills since these talents will be used in whatever direction the lads pursue,” said Stone.
Strengths of the program are the field site opportunities the students experience so they can develop first-hand knowledge about construction situations that can't be conveyed effectively in a classroom.
“Having a bus available to transport the group to local job sites and vendor locations to watch and study first hand the trade we are discussing is a priceless advantage,” said Stone.
Over the course of the semester, the interns developed the myriad skills needed to complete a West Georgia Habitat for Humanity house in West Carrollton. With the help of Habitat volunteers, the goal was to have the house finished by the end of the year. The grateful family was able to move in just before Christmas.
In addition to working on the Habitat house, the interns also competed in a Skills USA competition with senior Luis Lopez capturing a region championship in carpentry, beating out competitors from 10 other northwest Georgia high schools. The interns plan to participate in similar events next semester, too.
The program is also gaining notoriety in the construction industry and educational circles. The internship was recently featured in a Georgia School Boards Association magazine for the program's efforts working with school district College and Career academies to show them how the CHS internship works.
But the real test of success can be found in the words of the interns themselves: Mason Covell, Nickolas Herren, Jacob Hubbard, Kameron Ingram, Luis Lopez, Orlyn Montufar, Jose Navas, Bryson Owens, Mason Villa and Austin Wisener.
“This has been a very good learning experience so far,” said senior Mason Covell. “The basics of general construction is a very useful tool to obtain in life. Mr. Stone has been a very helpful instructor and I plan to learn the most I can learn throughout the year.”
Junior Bryson Owens agreed. “I learn new things every day and look forward to going every day,” said Bryson. “Mr. Stone is an amazing teacher who goes in depth on every subject and answers every question. I feel this class will always help me in life and I really enjoy it.”
Nickolas Herren, another junior, sees the internship as an opportunity. “This class has taught me things I could have never learned on my own,” said Nickolas. “I am excited to look back after this year is over and remember what all I learned. I am so thankful to be presented with such a great opportunity and I am gonna make the best of it.”
Stone, who has been in the construction business for four decades, is the Yoda-like mentor sharing his knowledge of the trades with others who have an interest and possible future in the industry. He says he sees the Habitat home as a special bonding project for the 10 teen-age boys who learned the culture of teamwork and brotherhood found in the field.
“This permanent home for a family will be a source of pride for these boys years from now,” said Stone. “They will have a physical reminder of what they learned in the fall of 2019.”
SkillsUSA Region Competition
Two Carrollton High School students placed 2nd in the SkillsUSA Region Competition on January 28, 2021. Jacob Hubbard (left) placed 2nd in Masonry. Cole Owens (right) placed 2nd in carpentry. These students are part of the Ra-Lin Construction Internship at CHS.
The CHS RA-LIN intern team poses for a group photo on the Habitat for Humanity worksite. From left are Mason Villa, Austin Wisener, Mason Covell, Jacob Hubbard, Jose Navas, Orlyn Montufar, instructor Chris Stone, Kameron Ingram, Nickolas Herren and Luis Lopez. Not pictured is Bryson Owens.