Building Futures in the Trades
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Building Futures in the Trades
LI Academy students explore real-world career pathways during industry visit
About 80 Long Island Academy students from on-site and in-district construction trade programs recently stepped out of their classrooms and into the real world of the trades during a visit to the Enterprise Park at Calverton, the former Grumman aerospace site now home to a wide range of industrial businesses. Their tour included Riverhead Building Supply’s Calverton headquarters, as well as several neighboring companies that operate in the construction and manufacturing fields. The experience highlighted the strong connection between LI Academy’s CTE programs and the local industries that are always seeking skilled, work-ready employees.
“This was a great opportunity for students to get out of the tech centers for a day, visit industry professionals, and really see what they’re doing on a day-to-day basis,” said In-District Program Administrator Mike Viviano. Because several industry partners are located within the same industrial park, students were able to tour multiple sites, observe operations, and speak directly with business owners and professionals about career pathways.
Viviano noted that these visits often open students’ eyes to possibilities they hadn’t considered. “Sometimes when you get out and actually see the work, you realize there are things you never thought about before,” he said.
By connecting local students with local employers, the partnership strengthens the regional workforce pipeline— “a win-win for both our students and our industry partners,” Viviano added. The LI Academy is continuing to expand these efforts, placing an emphasis on building strong industry connections across all fields.
Click HERE to watch Mike Viviano explain why the field trip is beneficial to the students and see footage of the LI Academy construction trade students touring the Riverhead Building Supply facility.
The Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology is the Career and Technical Education Program of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, with locations in Bellport, Oakdale, and Riverhead.
