Construction Trades instructor Tim Courkamp with four of his students
LCC is pleased to announce that five students have successfully completed their Construction Trades Associate of Applied Science degree: Bill Williams, Montana Barlow, Hunter Wilson, Krystal Ramsey, and Quentin Coberley. The students completed all four semesters of the program and are the first graduates since the program’s redesign in 2016-2017.
The LCC Construction Trades Program Advisory Board revised the Construction Trades program just over two years ago and developed the program into four distinct semesters with four stackable certificates: Construction Trades Essentials, Exterior Design, Interior Design, and Construction Trades Mastery. At that time Tim Courkamp was brought on to implement the program. “It had been an ultimate goal of mine for the last 10 years to get the Construction Trades program restarted,” said Mr. Courkamp. On Saturday he saw the success of his hard work in these five graduating students.
Over the past two years students of Construction Trades have learned fundamental skills and also participated in a variety of projects, ranging from a table made out of a tree log for the History Encampment to stairs, a variety of sheds, and the pergola and gardening beds on the main campus grounds. Mr. Courkamp states that he has enjoyed working with the students, and LCC has appreciated his efforts on the program.”It is very difficult to launch a program,” said Dr. Stagner Stulp. “Mr. Courkamp has been both exceptionally motivated and patient, and we are so thankful for all the work he has done to make this program successful.”
LCC understands that Construction Trades is not only a growing field for occupations but also a local community need, and the college intends to continue to invest in the program. The program will have a new home in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Building, which was recently funded by the State. Preliminary design work has already begun and the CTE Building will house not only Construction Trades, but also Renewable Energy and Precision Agriculture. “The Construction Trades program and the new building are investments in our communities.” said, Dr. Linda Lujan, LCC President. “We are excited about the opportunity to be part of the growth in our region.”
Mr. Courkamp concludes, “It is a program that needs to be available to students. The students here are creative and good at taking an idea and using tools to build it from the ground up.”