Since renovations began at Fox Chapel Area High School last year, some students have been wearing hard hats and safety vests in the building — but only when they venture into construction areas as interns working with the engineers and project managers from Massaro CM Services LLC.

Nancy Gorgas, project engineer for the O’Hara-based construction management firm, serves as the students’ adviser.

“We work in the high school, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to give the students real-life job experiences,” she said. Massaro, which has managed construction projects at colleges and universities, has offerred internships to students at those schools before, but this is the first time the opportunity has been extended to high school juniors and seniors.

After district administrators asked for a construction website, Ms. Gorgas approached the high school guidance office with the idea of having students develop and maintain a website detailing progress throughout the project. The site features alerts about changes in the building and on the campus that affect students and guests during and after the school day.

The site also includes detailed drawings that show plans while slide shows illustrate progress. There is even a drone video of ongoing work.

John Baxter, career development coordinator in the high school guidance office, first helped Ms. Gorgas find students interested in building and managing the website. Next came opportunities to work with engineers and project managers on job sites in and around the high school building and in the marketing department at Massaro’s offices in RIDC Park.

Just as in the real world, students had to submit resumes to the guidance department and be interviewed by the company.

“It’s nice for us to give them practical experience,” Mr. Baxter said. “I think it’s been a tremendous benefit to have a corporation that’s been very willing to work with our students and also the community.”

“They’re getting real job-type experience here,” Ms. Gorgas said. “They’re getting to see what kinds of things they would do as they get older and move into careers. Providing a learning experience and a job-exchange program is near and dear to my heart.”

Changes at the high school this past year have included moving swim team practices to Shady Side Academy’s pool while a new natatorium is being constructed,  lunch in the gym while the cafeteria seating area is remodeled, and most recently, entering the school from a side door while the main entrance of the 50-year-old building undergoes a facelift.

So far, about 10 Fox Chapel Area juniors and seniors have participated in the internship program. Because of the project’s time frame, some seniors who participated last year were replaced by new students this year.

Josh Dunlap, 18, a senior from Fox Chapel, was a web page design intern for Massaro this year. He said he heard about the opportunity from Brian Yanizeski, his web page design teacher, and from Mr. Baxter.

“What impressed me most was how well we were treated,” Josh said. “They treated us as equals and often times asked for our input on various aspects of the project.”

He said the internship will help him as he pursues a business major in college next year.

“It has really opened up my eyes to the world of business and has shown me how a prospering company works on a daily basis,” he said.

Andrew Tublin, 18, a senior from Fox Chapel, said he does not plan to study engineering in college, even though he is the current project engineer intern. “Regardless of my future college major or profession,my experience will be critical to my future. I’ve been able to see first hand what it takes for progress to be made in a professional environment. There is so much more that goes in to the overall construction process than one may assume,” he said.

Andrew said working with Massaro has taught him that leadership, communication, teamwork and accountability are the keys to effectiveness and efficiency in any professional field and will be the values to takes away from his internship.

Nikki Mauder, 17, a senior from Indiana Township, worked in the marketing department at Massaro’s RIDC office.

“I’ve been very impressed with my interactions with the Massaro employees,” she said. “It has been a great learning experience and the knowledge I have gained will benefit me in my future endeavors.”

Nikki said she plans to study business when she goes to college next year.

“Having this real-world experience with Massaro has reinforced my previous decision that this is the path I plan to pursue.”

And Ms. Gorgas and Mr. Baxter said they plan to continue the program while renovation continues through the next school year. “It’s rewarding to see the students enjoying the experience, even if what they learn is what they don’t want to do for the rest of their lives,” Ms. Gorgas said.

Mr. Baxter said working with Massaro and being treated as professionals helped the interns prepare for their future careers.

“A few of the students have discovered they prefer working in the field to sitting behind the desk,” he said. 

Rita Michel, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: March 27, 2015, 4:00 a.m.