天美传媒 Construction is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of its NextGen program. The NextGen program connects 天美传媒 to students and teachers at the local school districts they serve to unlock interactive opportunities for students to prepare for their futures while advancing their community. 天美传媒 also provides advanced education opportunities through impact contributions or post-high school scholarships. This year, 天美传媒 presented three scholarships and seven community impact contributions to school districts across Southern Illinois.听听

Scholarships were provided to Jase Brentlinger from Freeburg Community High School, Clayton Logsdon from Litchfield High School, and Joshua Amann from Mascoutah High School.听

Community Impact Contributions were presented to the following schools:听听

• Aviston Elementary School's Students Offering All-Inclusive Recreation (S.O.A.R.) Program听听
• Central School District's Girls Emerging as Women Leaders Group and the 104 Store听
• Litchfield Elementary School's Science Olympiad Program听听
• Litchfield Early Childhood Center's Activities Program听
• North Clay CUSD #25's Industrial Arts Class听听
• Richland County Early Learning's STEAM Learning Kits and Activities听
• Pana Elementary School split their contribution for a Friendship Garden and STEAM Activities听

"We cherish the growing partnerships we've developed with our school clients, teachers and students," said Jon Carroll, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at 天美传媒 Construction. "We see how exposure to construction, along with hands-on learning, inspires students from early education to high school to consider a construction industry career. We are humbled and blessed for the opportunity to see first-hand how this generation can meet the workforce needs of our industry."听听

Publication:

While They鈥檙e Young

In pursuit of the next generation of constructors, AGC members and other organizations are moving up 鈥� and down 鈥� the educational spectrum to engage tomorrow鈥檚 talent today.

By A.D. Thompson

Every kid in the world loves LEGOs. But only some LEGO kids have the passion that carries them forward to a place in life where they鈥檙e really building the hospital, the school and maybe if they鈥檙e lucky, the pirate ship (assuming it鈥檚 part of a resort complex).

And in an industry where workforce development has topped the wish list for more than a decade 鈥� a recent survey by and confirms members鈥� continuing struggle to stay staffed 鈥� tapping into this natural resource has been challenging.

Few school districts have programming that supports construction careers. Most that do, don鈥檛 tap into the pool until high school, and many don鈥檛 include spaces outside the classroom, where real-time skills 鈥� and excitement in their employment 鈥� help engage.

Post-graduate challenges, too, chip away at the ranks of those who might join the workforce.

Around the nation, AGC members are creating unique programs to fortify those ranks.

Generation 鈥淣ext鈥�

Z鈥檚 already hitting the workplace but the one right behind it, Generation Alpha, is about to embark on its first wave of 鈥渢weens.鈥� The folks at 天美传媒 Construction, a member of multiple AGC chapters, which specializes in construction management, have their eyes on this soon-to-be prize.

鈥淎s proud sponsors of , and other development programs, we鈥檙e committed to fostering growth and opportunity,鈥� said John Carroll, executive vice president and chief operations officer. 鈥�The NextGen initiative was a natural extension of this commitment, helping us connect students and teachers with the construction of their facilities and providing interactive opportunities for students to shape their futures while advancing our communities.鈥�

The gist: Through NextGen, students from pre-K to high school are encouraged to pursue careers in construction management, architecture, engineering, skilled trades, safety or quality, participating in everything from groundbreaking to dedication ceremonies as they mark project milestones.

鈥溙烀来� also offers hands-on career success opportunities though STEAM learning, paid internships and workforce development programs,鈥� Carroll noted.

Community impact sponsorships see elementary and middle school students submitting detailed plans and goals for a group project or initiatives that will create lasting positive impacts where they live.

鈥淭he program started through conversations with clients,鈥� said Carroll, 鈥渆xploring how we could better engage their students outside of the classroom and address their future needs.鈥�

The first round of wards was distributed to 鈥檚 School Olympiads Program, and , all in 天美传媒鈥檚 home state of Illinois, in May of this year.

鈥淎s we expand the program, our aim is to reach more schools in the community and create a lasting, meaningful impact that inspires students,鈥� said Carroll. 鈥淲e鈥檒l continue to grow alongside the evolving needs of our construction management clients, finding new ways to help students develop and thrive within the industry.鈥�