By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Determined to help solve what he calls a \u201cworkforce problem\u201d in the engineering industry, Drew Kenyon, along with Creekside High School teacher Kevin Davenport and Dylan Scanlon, came up with the idea to train high school students to use the computer drafting program AutoDesk Civil 3D and to learn more about the civil engineering industry. Kenyon, a Creekside High School graduate who went on to earn a bachelor\u2019s in civil engineering at the University of Florida, said that a big part of what he does in his professional engineering job is construction drawings using AutoCAD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI felt high schoolers could learn to do some of this work,\u201d he said. \u201cThis helps engineers have time for higher level tasks and the added benefit for the student is that being a certified CAD technician can be a good career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listening to a podcast about a similar initiative that had been structured as a foundation in Mississippi gave Kenyon the idea to replicate the non profit set up locally \u2014 and the Florida Civil Educators Foundation was born in 2022. The foundation\u2019s mission is to provide hands-on training, mentorship and internships to high school civil engineering and construction students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are trying to be a part of the solution by taking an interesting approach to this workforce problem,\u201d Kenyon said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Presently, Kenyon and Scanlon join Davenport, who is a professional engineer and their former teacher at the Creekside Engineering Academy, one morning a week before school starts to train academy students on basic AutoCad that can be applied to any business.
\u201cWe want to be in all schools,\u201d Scanlon, also a Creekside High School graduate, said. \u201cAnywhere we can reach out to the local community so that local engineering firms can have a pipeline of potential students to work and intern.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenyon and Scanlon said that Pedro Menendez High School is currently upgrading its computers to accommodate the required software and that they will begin delivering their curriculum at that school in addition to Creekside in the fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenyon said that their plan is not just to teach concepts, but also provide real world working opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis training isn\u2019t just in a vacuum,\u201d he said. \u201cThe best scenario is to get students placed in engineering firms, so we advocate for paid internships as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Davenport recognizes the contribution of his former students to his profession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese young professionals in our community are giving back to the St. Johns County schools that educated them,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are trying to help the students as well as their engineering companies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Davenport said there is a big need in the engineering industry for people to work \u2014 and not just as engineers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom a teacher\u2019s perspective, it\u2019s important when students leave high school that they have a skill,\u201d Davenport said. \u201cNot everyone goes to college; it\u2019s just not for everyone. To have this hands-on vocational skill has been missing from school systems for the last several years.\u201d
Davenport said he wants to bring the industry into the classroom and to that end, he welcomes representatives from various local engineering firms to make presentations regarding their firms to his students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Florida Civil Educators Foundation is actively seeking individuals and engineering firms with a desire to support the next generation\u2019s workforce. Visit www.fcefinc.com or email Andrew.Kenyon@fcefinc.com for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Photo courtesy Kevin Davenport<\/p>\n\n\n\n
35 Creekside Engineering Academy juniors meet with volunteer mentors one day a week before school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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By Martie Thompsoneditor@floridanewsline.com Determined to help solve what he calls a \u201cworkforce problem\u201d in the engineering industry, Drew Kenyon, along with Creekside High School teacher Kevin Davenport and Dylan Scanlon, came up with the idea to train high school students to use the computer drafting program AutoDesk Civil 3D and to learn more about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9737","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-creekline-st-johns"},"yoast_head":"\n