East Las Vegas families now have a local pathway to the region’s growing construction jobs. Southeast Career Technical Academy (SECTA) has expanded its construction program so senior students can practice real‑world skills before they graduate.
Hands‑on learning on a simulated job site
Senior Summer Abel says the program feels like an actual work crew. “Our teacher’s goal for this club is to simulate the job site, so we have the boss, the workers, and the safety person making sure we do everything right,” she explained.
Construction instructor Lucas Inman emphasizes that the focus is not just speed but quality. “I tell my students all the time, I’d rather you build it correctly than build it quickly,” Inman said. He wants the roads and structures the students create to last a century, not just a few decades.
Tools and trade exposure
Students rotate through several trades, including plumbing, metal framing and carpentry, giving them a broad view of the skilled‑trade landscape. Inman provides each learner with a personal set of tools so they spend more time building and less time waiting to share equipment.
That hands‑on approach has been bolstered by a partnership with Nigro Construction. The firm has donated nearly 2,000 tools since the collaboration began, ensuring every student has the gear needed for practice.
Industry demand fuels the program
Kaela Coons, marketing coordinator at Nigro Construction, notes that Nevada’s construction pipeline topped $33 billion in 2026. “There’s a lot of work out there, the construction industry is growing, and we want to make sure the next generation is prepared because the workforce needs people entering the skilled trades,” she said.
With the region’s building boom, the program aims to fill the talent gap that developers and contractors are already feeling. By giving students early exposure, SECTA hopes to keep local families employed and reduce the need for outside labor.
How to apply
Applications for the SECTA construction program are now open. Interested students and parents can find the online form through the school’s website.
For East Las Vegas residents, the initiative represents a concrete step toward stronger families, solid jobs, and a thriving community built on faith‑centered values and personal responsibility.
Original reporting: KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas (local) — read the source article.
