1993 Los Alamos High School graduate and Division Manager for Great Southern Homes in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Jason Faulkner at a construction site. Courtesy photo
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
When he graduated in 1993 from Los Alamos High School, Jason Faulkner did not consider a career in construction. In fact, when he completed college, Faulkner received a math teaching degree.
But his time in the high school’s building program, spear-headed by Stan Primak, led Faulkner into a career in construction. Now, Faulkner is helping other high school students see the benefits and high points of working in construction. Faulkner, who lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is a member of the Horry Georgetown Home Builders Association (HGHBA) and co-chair of its Workforce Development Committee.
He explained since “the industry needs a lot of skilled workers” they looked around to see what the association could do to promote education in the trade and build the workforce in the area. HGHBA found the Academy of Technology and Arts (ATA), which has construction science programs. Students did miscellaneous projects such as building sheds and picnic tables.
Faulkner said the HGHBA wanted to do more and achieved that by partnering with Habitat for Humanity. The program, which kicked off this year, is striving to have students build a Habitat for Humanity house for a qualifying family every year.
“We wanted to increase interest and participation in the program and give the students something to be extremely proud of,” he wrote in an email. “What better way than to build a house for a deserving family? Chad Charles, of Habitat for Humanity and a valued member in the HGHBA, recognized the opportunity for us to partner with each other and the school district to make this idea come true. This project is the result of everyone’s willingness to work together to work through the details. We are extremely excited about this partnership and project. The value it will add to the receiving family, the students and parents, the local construction industry, and the program at ATA is likely immeasurable. We hope this continues for years to come.”
Thirty students are enrolled in the program, he said. They include juniors and seniors in high school.
This program is similar to what Faulkner participated in while he was at LAHS. He said, under Primak’s guidance, his building trades program constructed a house from the ground up on North Mesa. Faulkner said the house was sold and the proceeds went to funding the next project.
The students were involved in everything from the foundation and electricity to the plumbing. Students worked with professionals as well as Primak.
“I personally took part in a construction program in high school that built an entire home from the ground up, using three different classes working on the home for two hours per day each day,” he wrote in his email. “I had no idea that I would be in the construction industry in the future, but it gave me the opportunity to really experience it when I was young.”
Los Alamos High School Building Traders Program Teacher Jim Steritz explained the Los Alamos program started in 1975. While during Primak’s time, students helped build homes now they build sheds. The projects may be smaller, but they are less expensive and still teach students basic principles including safety, and how to handle hand and power tools.
Plus, Steritz said the program still offers pathways to good careers.
“Many of our past students and graduates are employed at the County, the laboratory and local contractors and businesses,” he said. “There are huge interests at the laboratory to increase internships (for)… pipefitters, plumbers … (we) try to give students exposure. This is an exploratory program where students get a little bit of knowledge of a lot of things … we show them career paths that they might not have thought about before … this can lead to a good paying job.”
Steritz added that he and fellow teacher Scott Pomeroy are pursuing expanding the program by partnering with the laboratory’s apprenticeship readiness program. He explained that the laboratory is interested in increasing its workforce and they are exploring how feasible it would be to partner with the lab to expose students to different trades.
“There is definitely opportunity over there,” Steritz said.
Faulkner can attest to the benefits of pursuing a career in a trade.
While he initially had no plans to work in construction, Faulkner said he started in the industry in 2000 and began building homes in 2003.
“I enjoy seeing the results of the work I did with my hands,” he said.
He became a Division Manager for Great Southern Homes and “I’m heavily involved in the local home builder’s association.”
Faulkner credits Primak’s and the high school’s program for his career and hopes that the ATA program benefits its students.
“It really affected me in a positive way, and it gives the students a chance to see the results of their work,” he said.
Faulkner said he lost contact with Primak, who died in 2021, but said that “(Primak) was good at what he did at the high school.”
A Habitat for Humanity house the Academy of Technology and Arts students are building. Courtesy photo
