Tuesday, August 30, 2011

From August 8th through the 12th, forty Middle School girls from the Manchester and Nashua area traveled to Manchester Community College to participate in "Middle School Girls Construction Week." Meridian Construction is proud to have helped fund the event, providing building materials for those in attendance.

Building items such as Adirondack chairs and picnic tables, the goal of the event was to promote self-esteem for middle school-aged girls before they entered high school. It was also to promote more interest in trades programs. Mary Laturnau, IT and Manufacturing Partnership Director with the state Department of Education, mentioned how only a small percentage of females (48 out of 840) were currently enrolled in trades programs in the state's public schools.

Hearing from speakers about the educational and career options available in construction and engineering, the event was a great success and went a long way to nurturing self-confidence. "It inspires girls to do more in life," said one of the participants.

In addition to Meridian Construction, supplies were donated by Kamco Supply Corporation, Eldridge Lumber & Hardware, P.J. Currier Lumber Company, LaValley Building Supply, and Belletetes.

The workshop opportunity was provided by funding from the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006, in partnership with the ITM Partnership (Information Technology & Manufacturing), the NH Department of Education Career Development Bureau, Manchester Community College, Girls at Work and the National Association of Women in Construction.