Manitou Springs High School Students Learn About the Trades Through CICC Programs
May 20, 2026 – Colorado Springs, CO — Encore Electric teammates in Southern Colorado are helping Manitou Springs High School students build a home through the Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) program. Through the Student-Built Homes project, Encore Electric electricians are teaching students the basics of electrical work, how to work safely on a project site, and what it’s like to be in the construction industry.
“We partner with Careers in Construction Colorado to support the Manitou Springs High School home-build project, teaming up with the HVAC and plumbing groups to help students experience what it takes to build a house from the ground up,” said Mike Ferguson, Encore Electric account manager. “This year, we worked closely with Keira Conley, operations manager for the Pikes Peak region, who did a fantastic job coordinating and planning the effort with us.”
This will be the second home the team has helped Manitou Springs High School build. The 1,200-square-foot home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, energy-efficient construction and insulation, modern finishes, and durable materials.
“Careers in Construction Colorado started in one high school with about 15 students. Since then, we’ve grown into a statewide program. We’re in 92 high schools across the state with about 5,000 students enrolled,” Conley said. “Students take the class the same way they would art or PE; it’s another elective they can choose to take at their high school.”
Through the CICC program, Manitou Springs High School students gain hands-on experience from licensed trade professionals and learn essential trade skills like tool identification, construction math, and safety practices. Participants also earn their OSHA 10 certification, which is required when starting as an electrician at Encore Electric.
“For four years in high school, students learn about construction, apply the math, and gain the hands-on experience needed to safely build. Students in various programs across the state build things from dog houses to chicken coops to three-bedroom, two-bathroom houses that are then sold to fund the program,” said David Scott, Encore Electric director of external affairs and CICC board member. “These are not typical high school students. Most of these high school graduates are focused and ready to begin their career in construction.”
Encore Electric Apprentice David Newton and Service Technician Daniel Romero are the two electricians on the project. Newton and Romero showed Manitou Springs High School students the electrical “rough-in” phase of the project, where the foundational wiring system is installed within the framework of the building. They will also teach the students about the electrical “finishing” phase of the project, which is the final stage of installation.
“Working with the Manitou Springs High School construction classes on their single-family home project was a fantastic experience. The students asked excellent questions and were highly engaged. It was encouraging that the next generation to enter the workforce has a high level of interest in the construction industry because there is currently a great need for talent, and a wide range of opportunities await these students should they choose to pursue a career in this field,” Newton said.
“It is a great time to be in the trades,” said JR Bond, Encore Electric vice president of business units. “Through this program, we can show students the long-term opportunities that are in the trades and help them understand what it is to be an electrician.”
This partnership between Manitou Springs High School, CICC, and Encore Electric is a key example of high impact outreach in schools.
Learn more about the programs CICC offers here.
