Summit High School Teacher Honored with Educator of the Year Congressional Service Award

Oakley Van Oss, the Construction and Welding teacher at Summit High School, has been named Educator of the Year by District 2 Congressman Joe Neguse! This prestigious recognition adds to Oakley’s impressive list of local, state, and national accolades for his outstanding construction program.

What sets Oakley apart is his dedication to accessibility and inclusivity. He teaches his classes in both Spanish and English, ensuring that welding and construction education is available to all students. Under his guidance and industry support from the Summit County community, students have completed a 288-square-foot tiny home and are currently halfway through building a 399-square-foot tiny home.

Summit High School benefits from its partnership with the Summit County Builders Association, a Chapter of CICC. This collaboration has provided Oakley and his students with invaluable support from the local building community, including assistance with the tiny home projects and employment opportunities for students.

Oakley’s Awards and Achievements:

• 2023: Summit Foundation Teacher of the Year
• 2024: $50,000 Tools for Schools Award from Harbor Freight
• 2024: Educator of the Year Congressional Service Award

Oakley’s students, school, community, and CICC are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and inspiring educator leading the way!

Students Tour Air Force Academy Polaris Hotel and Visitor Center with HR Green

Students from Coronado High School, Manitou Springs High School, Patriot High School, and Fountain-Fort Carson High School recently had the unique opportunity to tour the newly completed Polaris Hotel and the nearly finished Visitor Center at the Air Force Academy.



Hosted by HR Green, the students gained valuable insights into the planning, design, and construction processes behind these remarkable projects. This hands-on experience highlighted the collaboration and innovation required to bring such large-scale developments to life, inspiring the next generation of construction and design professionals.

Monte Vista High School Tours Alcon Construction Tiny Homes

Students from Monte Vista High School recently visited a tiny home community in Crestone, Colorado, hosted by Alcon Construction. During the tour, students observed various phases of construction, including dirt work, framing, electrical installation, and drywall.



Walking through the community while tradespeople were actively working provided students with an up-close look at the skills and teamwork involved in building a tiny home community. They also had the opportunity to hear from multiple guest speakers who shared insights about the industry and their career paths.



A big thank you to Alcon Construction for providing this incredible learning experience for students!

Invest In Future Leaders!

Give back to Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) this season! Your donation helps us provide hands-on construction education, leadership development, and career opportunities for students across the state. Together, we can build a stronger future for Colorado’s workforce. Every contribution makes a difference!