Two Montecito High graduates begin construction careers with Swinerton

San Diego Tribune

Chance Kaufman and Gabrielle Farrell signed letters of commitment to work at Swinerton, a national construction company, in front of family, community leaders and mentors on July 24.

The recent Montecito High School graduates worked with Nick Jordan, construction teacher at Montecito, and competed in SkillsUSA competitions.

This was the third signing day for Montecito graduates, making Kaufman and Farrell the eighth and ninth former students of Jordan’s to be selected to start their apprenticeships at Swinerton in the drywall and steel stud divisions.

Kaufman and Farrell are already hired, Jordan said. They started their apprenticeships the day after the signing — Farrell at San Diego State University in La Jolla and Kaufman in Little Italy.

“You hear about all these kids, ‘Oh I’m going to UCLA to play basketball.’ Let’s make a big deal out of these kids,” Jordan said. “They’re going into the construction industry and they’re starting off. I wish I had this when I was in school.”