Asher Bonner, a rising junior from Fleetwood Area School District, is spending his summer gaining valuable hands-on experience through a co-op with BCTC's Maintenance Department. From maintaining campus grounds to assisting with facility repairs, every day brings a new opportunity to learn practical skills that will support his future career goals.
Working alongside the BCTC Operations team, Asher helps complete a variety of work orders across campus. During the summer months, much of the focus has been on outdoor maintenance before the hottest days of August arrive, including mowing and groundskeeping. Inside the buildings, he's helped replace ceiling tiles, work on lighting projects, and even assisted with removing and installing a new water heater. "I help with whatever we need to do that day," Asher explained. "We just try to get it done as fast as possible."
The transition to a full-time summer schedule has been one of his biggest adjustments. "Being here from 8 to 4 is a long day," he said. "It's not really a challenge, just something you get used to."
Asher came into the summer with previous work experience, having worked as a dishwasher at Grand Central Tap Room and spending last summer doing landscaping for SealMaster in Allentown. Those experiences taught him the value of hard work, but his co-op at BCTC has expanded his knowledge of building maintenance and facility operations while exposing him to a wider variety of skilled trades.
His decision to enroll in BCTC's Building Construction Occupations (BCO) program was a strategic one. Originally interested in engineering, Asher realized he could combine Fleetwood's engineering coursework with the hands-on construction experience offered at BCTC. "I wanted to come for engineering," he said, "but I figured knowing how to do everything was just as beneficial, if not more beneficial. Fleetwood offers engineering classes, so I realized I could kind of take both."
After high school, Asher plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering, believing that understanding how buildings and construction projects are completed in the field will make him a stronger engineer in the future.
His advice for younger students is to begin thinking ahead long before high school. "Once you hit around seventh grade, it's smart to think about how you want your schedule to work," he shared. After transferring to Fleetwood just before his freshman year, Asher learned firsthand how important planning can be. "Working on it ahead of time made everything a lot easier."
When asked if he had one final piece of advice, his answer was simple but meaningful: “Working harder makes everything easier."
Through his summer co-op and his commitment to learning both technical and academic skills, Asher is building more than structures—he's building a strong foundation for a successful future in civil engineering.