DOVER, Fla. — Over 1,500 high school students from around Tampa Bay attended the annual Tampa Bay Construction Career Day at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds on Wednesday. 

Students received hands on experience operating heavy equipment and learning about the construction industry, and organizers say the goal is show students all the career options available to them.

John Simkins is a senior at Brandon High School, and on Wednesday, he traded in sitting at his desk at school for operating heavy machinery.

“To my knowledge, I was just picking up dirt and moving it around, but I did it in a big machine," he said. "I’m pretty sure my dad’s jealous right now."

Students had the opportunity to use all different types of heavy equipment, and talk with people actually working in the construction field about their jobs.

“A lot of times, in high school especially, kids are pushed to go to college, like that’s the only path available, but we want them to know there are so many other options out there,” said Dixie Hammer with PCL Construction.

PCL Construction is one of the sponsors of the event, which is hosted by FDOT.

Students also met with representatives from engineering firms, contractors and consultants — with some companies hiring on the spot.

“We are hiring students straight out of high school once they graduate, so there are a ton of careers available," said Hammer. There are companies actively hiring, and these are careers they can go on to learn, and do very well, making very good money, without going into debt.”

Which is why Simkins came out, saying he’s still trying to figure out his future.

“I don’t know exactly where I’m going after school, so I figured coming here might help me determine what I might want to do after I graduate, and it’s coming up," he said. "So I figured it’d be a good course of action to come here and meet people who may help me with that.”

FDOT officials there say events like this help build a strong workforce pipeline to support Florida’s growing transportation network.