For many young students, the opportunity to use construction tools or even the idea of a career in construction never arrives. Enter the Skilled Trades Ninja Challenge in Shelby County, Ohio.
Sponsored by Area Energy & Electric, Ferguson Construction, Slagle Mechanical and Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) and organized by the Workforce Partnership of Shelby County, the Skilled Trades Ninja Challenge has been making the construction trades accessible and fun for children in the 8th-12th grades.
Initiated in 2017 with just three schools participating, the program has skyrocketed into popularity with its Winter 2020 session boasting full-county participation. Mick Given, chief executive officer of Ferguson Construction, took an organizational and funding lead, reaching out to the other sponsors and ensuring the program got off the ground. “Ferguson is heavily involved in workforce, so it was natural for us to take the lead in this effort,” he says.
Given jumped at the chance to be involved at the ground level because the effort was “to help students understand what it takes to be employable, as well as exposing students to all the wonderful careers available to them in Shelby County,” he says.
The competition itself is divided between the boys and girls. Then it is subdivided among each company with different stations that include nailing, running a screw gun, measuring, bolt tightening, sheet metal, electricity and carpentry.
The event is timed in a tournament style, pitting first, second and third place winners from each school against one another.
“Sports are big in this area and the students carry that competitiveness and excitement into the Ninja Challenge,” says Deb McDermott, executive director of Workforce Partnership of Shelby County.
Ferguson provides all participants with the necessary personal protective equipment for the event. “We feel this is as important as running the course,” Given says. And that’s not the only benefit students can walk away with. This year, Ferguson announced that any student who kept a hardhat they received in competition and returned it to the company—if hired—would receive a $1,000 sign-on bonus.
In February, those competing received a K&J ice cream coupon, and the Fort Laramie team, which won for fastest team, was awarded McDonald’s coupons as well. Prize boxes for winners also included lunch boxes, T-shirts, drill bits and other items from the sponsoring companies.
But another important aspect, says McDermott, is the potential of newly minted mentors and the spark of interest in a future career. “I feel this will help students long term, as they are learning these company leaders are ‘people’ just like them, which lessens the intimidation factor,” she says.
Another resource the program introduces to students is the Upper Valley Career Center, which McDermott says can “funnel interested students into related career tech programs and allow students to graduate with certifications, apprenticeships and employment in the construction field.”
That, says Given, would be the true “success” of the Ninja Challenge. “We are ultimately helping students to make better career choices, and that is what it is all about,” he says. “If we can help a student to make a better, informed choice on their career path, then we have helped that student and the community. That is a win-win for sure.”
Editor’s Note: This program began before the pandemic and is currently on hold.
