De Soto Local Road Improvements Project Honored with KC Global Design FWD Fusion Award
October 9, 2026
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October was a busy month of building connections at Clarkson Construction! From jobsite tours and career fairs to classroom presentations and conversations with industry professionals, our team spent the month introducing Kansas City-area students to the people, projects, and career opportunities shaping the future of construction.
Through partnerships with local schools and workforce development organizations, we welcomed students to explore the industry firsthand, learn about infrastructure improvements underway in their own communities, and discover the many career paths available in construction.
Bringing Classroom Lessons to Life with Kansas City Virtual Academy
Our partnership with Kansas City Virtual Academy gave students a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world construction through a three-week educational experience.
The program began with two virtual presentations: the first to introduce students to the Improve I-70 Kansas City project, its geographic significance, and the many career opportunities involved in delivering a major transportation improvement. Students also heard directly from a bridge superintendent about his career path and the work involved in building bridges.
The experience concluded with an in-person tour of the Improve I-70 Kansas City jobsite, where superintendents and project engineers helped bring those lessons to life. Students got an up-close look at the construction progress, explored how the work connects to what they had learned in the classroom, and asked plenty of thoughtful questions along the way.
Exploring Careers at Dozer Day KC
Clarkson also joined more than 1,000 area high school students at the Truman Sports Complex for Dozer Days KC's Constructing Careers Day. The event brought together construction companies, industry professionals, and students for a day dedicated to exploring opportunities in the skilled trades and construction industry.
Our team shared information about the projects we're building throughout the region, introduced students to the variety of careers available in heavy civil construction, and answered questions about what it takes to build and maintain the infrastructure our communities rely on every day.
For students considering their next steps after high school, events like Constructing Careers Day offer a valuable opportunity to see the possibilities available in an industry that continues to grow.
Encouraging Women in Construction with PREP-KC and WTS-KC
We welcomed more than 20 Girls in Technology students to the Improve I-70 Kansas City project for a behind-the-scenes tour organized through PREP-KC and WTS-KC, the Kansas City chapter of WTS, an organization dedicated to advancing women in transportation careers.
During the visit, students met with members of the Clarkson-Radmacher Joint Venture team, including project managers, estimators, superintendents, and project engineers, who shared their career experiences and provided insight into planning, engineering, and construction involved in a major infrastructure project.
The tour gave students a chance to see construction in action, ask questions, and meet professionals working in the roles they may one day pursue themselves.
Connecting High School Seniors with Construction CareersĀ
We rounded out the month's outreach activities by welcoming more than 20 high school seniors participating in the National Institute for Construction Excellence (NICE-KC)'s Senior Days program.
Students started their visit with a tour of the Improve I-70 Kansas City jobsite, where members of our field and project teams shared an up-close look at the work underway and discussed the roles involved in delivering a complex transportation project.
Following the tour, students visited Clarkson's headquarters in the Crossroads Arts District for lunch and a career panel featuring professionals from project management, highway and design-build leadership, accounting, communications, and preconstruction. The conversation highlighted an important message: it takes far more than the people you see on a jobsite to keep a construction company running.
From estimating and finance to project management, engineering, safety, and skilled trades, students learned about the wide range of career opportunities available and the different professional paths that can lead to a rewarding career in construction.
Building Connections That Last
While each event offered a different experience, they all shared a common purpose: connecting young people with the people and projects shaping their communities.
The Improve I-70 Kansas City project provides a particularly valuable learning opportunity. Students can see firsthand how transportation infrastructure is designed and built, understanding the challenges involved in improving a major interstate corridor, and learn how today's construction work will benefit drivers, businesses, and communities for generations to come.
These experiences are also an opportunity for our employees to share their knowledge, career journeys, and enthusiasm for the industry. Whether leading a jobsite tour, answering questions at a career fair, or participating in a panel discussion, their willingness to invest time in the next generation makes this outreach possible.
If you work with students in the Kansas City area and would be interested in learning more about scheduling a jobsite tour, classroom presentation, or other outreach, please email Improve I-70 Kansas City Stakeholder Coordinator Kate Sweeten at kate.sweeten@crjv.com.
