The Power of Hands-On Learning

CarolinaPower, a leading regional electrical contractor with offices in South Carolina, recently showcased electrical contracting to high school students enrolled in the Building Construction Technology program at the Donaldson Career Center at SCTAC – part of Greenville County Schools in the Upstate region.

CarolinaPower team members Chris Traugh, Paul Yanovskiy, David Steffens, Gage Schatz, and Shannon Graham set up multiple interactive stations to give students a real look at how technology and craftsmanship come together in today’s construction industry.

Stations at a Glance

• Oculus VR Building Layout – Students stepped into a virtual environment to see how buildings are coordinated before anything is installed in the field, helping them visualize projects in a way drawings alone can’t.
• Trimble Point Coordination – A walkthrough of how layout points are coordinated and transferred from digital models to real-world locations, showing how precision and technology drive efficiency and accuracy.
• Electrical Troubleshooting – A hands-on station focused on diagnosing and solving simple electrical system issues, reinforcing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Conduit Bending – A crowd favorite, where students got hands-on experience bending conduit and learning how craftsmanship still plays a huge role alongside advanced tools.

CarolinaPower’s Chris Traugh, Construction Services Director, noted “Events like this are a win on every level — they connect students to real career paths, show how the trades continue to evolve with technology, and help build the next generation of skilled professionals. A big thanks to Donaldson Career Center for hosting and to everyone who helped make the day a success. Excited to keep investing in the future of our industry!”