From left are Megan Boddy, talent services manager at Michigan Works; Lorrie Vross and her daughter Lexie Vross; and Mike Smith, executive director of the U.P. Construction Council.

KINGSFORD — Kingsford High School senior Lexie Vross has become the first Dickinson County student taking part in the new Construction Connect Upper Peninsula program.

Vross is finishing her second year in Susan Sturm’s Mechatronics class at the Dickinson-Iron Tech Center in Kingsford. When asked if anyone in class was interested in the construction trade, she stepped forward.

“I like building things and designing,” the 18-year-old said.

Launched earlier this year, Construction Connect U.P. is designed to transition students from school to work by giving qualified high school seniors an academic education while instilling in them an understanding of the world of work and the skills necessary to compete in the construction industry.

Vross spends the first two hours in the morning at her CCUP rotation — initially at MJ Electric for nine weeks, now at Sikora HVAC until mid-May — before returning to classes for the rest of the day.

It allows her to work and learn on job sites, such as wiring for a 16-unit apartment building in Niagara, Wis., or helping with duct work being installed at a new daycare in Iron Mountain.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Vross said of the program. “It’s letting me explore different fields around town with skills that can be used anywhere.”

CCUP is operating as a pilot program for the second semester of this school year, with Vross and three students from Escanaba taking part.

After attending college — her two years of Mechatronics in high school will allow her to obtain an associate degree at Bay College in only one year — Vross’ goal is to enter a union apprenticeship and become a journeyperson, probably in electrical.

The Upper Peninsula Construction Council, a joint labor/management council established and sponsored by affiliated signatory contractors and union building trades, developed this program in collaboration with U.P. Michigan Works, Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, Dickinson-Iron ISD and Marquette-Alger Regional Education Services Agency. The program is skill based, labor and industry approved and directly linked to real-world workplace situations.

“CCUP gives qualified high school seniors an outstanding academic education while instilling in them an understanding of the world of work and the skills necessary for competing in the construction industry,” Mike Smith, UPCC executive director, said in February.

Organizers will be recruiting for the Construction Connect U.P. Program for the 2023-24 school year. Students who will be high school seniors next year, are enrolled in a certified Career and Technical Education program and interested in a career in union building trades are encourage to apply for this “Earn ($) and Learn” program.