ACAD News & Events

Let's Build a House

November 23, 2010 — Students in the Academy of Construction and Design donned hard hats and safety gear for the first day of classes at the site of the Academy's student-built house in Washington, DC.

Under the guidance and mentoring of licensed instructors and professional builders, students are taking their math, carpentry, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading, and practical science studies from the classroom to the real-life construction site. The result will be a new single-family house for sale in the local community. Proceeds will help make Build a House – Build a Future an annual project in the Academy's career and technical education program.

In an interview for Comcast Newsmakers, Academy manager Shelly Karriem discusses the benefits of the home building program for students and the District community.

Follow our progress at Build a House – Build a Future.

Academy of Construction and Design Students Display Academic and Technical Excellence

Academy of Construction and Design seniors are joined by faculty at the Meet the Future luncheon on May 14, 2010. Seated, left to right: lead carpentry instructor Marshall Janifer, Academy manager Shelly Morrison, electrical instructor Richard Lawrence, and plumbing instructor Larry Morris. (Foundation photo)

The D.C. Students Construction Trades Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization offering pre-apprenticeship training in carpentry, electrical, HVAC and other trade specialties in the Academy of Construction and Design at Cardozo Senior High School. The Construction Trades Foundation is the only District-based apprenticeship training sponsor accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. In school year 2010-11, students in the Academy of Construction and Design will gain basic skills and earn technical certifications while constructing the District’s first student-built house. Read more about Build a House – Build a Future.

Each year, the Foundation recognizes graduating seniors from the Academy of Construction and Design and welcomes alumni, family, civic leaders and corporate sponsors to the Meet the Future Luncheon, a special event held in downtown Washington. In school year 2009-10, eleven Academy seniors were named to the academic honor roll, including Ivan Ango who was also named Cardozo Senior High School’s 2010 salutatorian.

Seniors Joshua Atkins and Sean Collins were 2010 Norman Dreyfuss Scholarship Winners, receiving awards of $2,500 and $1,500 respectively. In this video, Ivan Ango, Joshua Atkins, Sean Collins and fellow seniors describe their experiences at the Academy and their plans after graduation. Commercial real estate developer Norman Dreyfuss talks about his personal motivation to create scholarships for students in the Academy of Construction and Design at Cardozo Senior High School.

Norman Dreyfuss Scholarships