An event hosted by the Northern Michigan University construction management program that exposes high school girls to construction trades is a good one, we believe.

The recent Women in Construction event at the Jacobetti Complex on the campus of Northern Michigan University saw more than 100 girls from across the Upper Peninsula participate. It was the third occasion the event was held.

“It has been proven that women do a very good job, and we’re really good communicators,” Heidi Blanck, an associate professor in NMU’s construction management program, said for a Mining Journal story on the matter. “We’re really good at problem solving, critical thinking, working as a team.”

The girls were able to try their hands at five separate construction-related activities, including working with wood and welding. Overall, some 30 volunteers helped keep everything on track.

“It’s less intimidating for these young ladies to just give it a try and see if it’s something that they want to do, and then maybe next semester or next year in school, they decide to try the wood shop class or the welding or maybe a CAD class or design,” Blanck said for the Journal story. “So, it gives them an opportunity for one day without making a huge commitment to explore and experience and see if they want to take it further.”

With national sources predicting a shortage of skilled construction workers going forward, and women an under-represented component of that work force, this program is positive from several vantage points. We hope it continues to experience success.