IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2019 | Page 74

Building Trades is a Growing Program at Steel
Center for Career and Technical Education
Mr. Nolan Bergamasco has been
the Building Trades instructor at Steel
Center for CTE for the past nine years.
He is passionate about his program and
the opportunity that is available in the
workforce for his students. Building Trades
is one of the programs of study at Steel
Center for CTE. It is a hands-on, skilled
labor opportunity for students who want
to work with their hands in a variety of
industries. Students completing this
program can work in commercial and
industrial buildings, as well as homes.
The students who are enrolled in this
program are exposed to carpentry,
millwork, plumbing, painting, glazing,
electricity, plastering, welding, minor sheet
metal work, concrete work, bricklaying,
tile setting, hardware usage, heating,
ventilation, waterproofing, roofing,
and record keeping. Mr. Bergamasco
is optimistic about the opportunities
his students have for employment. Mr.
Bergamasco stated, “Many of the people
who are working in the trades now are
Baby Boomers who are retiring. This is
leaving a ‘Skills Trade Gap’ in the industry.
As the supply of skilled employees
decreases, the demand will increase,
and the wages will follow the demand.”
He also mentioned that this trade is one
that requires further education. Skilled
labor is required to be knowledgeable in
several areas and education is critical to
being trained and proficient to meet these
requirements. His students have gone on to
join the Carpenters Union, the Electricians
Union, the Plumbers Union, and the Heavy
Equipment Operators Union. Students who
complete the building trades program can
earn industry certificates such as the NOCTI
Skills Testing Certification, Pennsylvania
Builder’s Association Certification (PBA),
OSHA-10 Hour Training CareerSafe, Fork Lift
Certification and the NCCR Certification.
Students who complete the program are
well on their way to continue opportunities
in this career field. One of the Brentwood
students who took advantage of this
opportunity is PJ Bruschi. PJ is a senior at
Brentwood High School and has been in
the Building Trades program at Steel Center
for CTE since he was in tenth grade. PJ has
worked very hard earning his industry
certificates and this year he qualified for
a cooperative education opportunity at
Brookside Lumber in Bethel Park. PJ stated,
“The Steel Center Cooperative Education
Program is a great opportunity for students
to take advantage of still being in school
but working in a real job. It has been a
very good decision for me.” Steel Center
for CTE partners with local business in
the industries that are part of their career
tracks. Students who excel in the areas
can qualify to work in businesses within
their career field. PJ Bruschi is one of the
students who has taken advantage of this
opportunity through Brookside Lumber
to earn job experience, make connections
in the field in which he was trained, and
network with employers who may be
hiring in the future. PJ is an example of the
opportunities that are available to Building
Trades students at Steel Center for CTE.
Brentwood High School Welcomes KDKA and Presents
Taking the Lead: Ford Driving Skills for Life
Brentwood High School was privileged to partner with KDKA television and present Taking
the Lead: Ford Driving Skills for Life to all 11th and 12th grade students. The event was hosted
by KDKA’s Rick Dayton who serves as the member of the KDKA News team and is the host of
Hometown High-Q. The program is a partnership between the Ford Motor Company Fund,
Westfield Insurance, Governor’s Highway Safety Association and Allegheny Pretrial Services.
The Ford Driving Skills for Life is a global initiative with hands-on events and education to
provide newly licensed, inexperienced, teenage drivers with skills to improve their driving and
make good decisions behind the wheel. Taking the Lead: Ford Driving Skills for Life (started
in 2007 in Pittsburgh) is a comprehensive community initiative that features an exciting
interactive website DrivingSkillsForLife.com. The panel of experts provided information on:
Hazard Recognition, Vehicle Handling, Speed Management and Space Management. Motor
vehicle accidents are the biggest risk of death to teens in this age range. The purpose of the
program is to educate and inform students of safe driving practices so that teens will be better
drivers on the road. Brentwood High School was proud to be chosen by KDKA to present this
program with the focus being on the student’s health, safety, and wellbeing.
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