Senior Helps Shape the Kalamazoo Skyline

Not many high school seniors can say they are helping shape their city’s skyline, but Loy Norrix graduate Caleb Pingel did exactly that. 

Through the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Capstone at Kalamazoo RESA Career Connect, Caleb spent his senior year split between earning high school credits and working on the new downtown Kalamazoo arena with Ritsema Associates.  

"Working here is really, really cool,” Caleb said. “Getting to be a part of such a big job site is so cool because you learn all these new types of things. It’s a great opportunity to gain new skills and figure out what you like.” 

His daily routine consisted of attending his Career & Technical Education (CTE) Welding class in the mornings, then  heading straight to the construction site for the afternoon. The WBL Capstone program bridges the gap between school and the professional world, offering students real-world experience through internships, job shadows, and industry tours. 

At the job site, Caleb worked alongside Ben Booker, a fellow CTE alumnus who credits his high school automotive and construction classes with helping him land his job at Ritsema Associates a year ago. 

"I think [CTE is] a great opportunity for any kid that wants to learn and see different paths,” Ben said. 

For the stadium project, Ritsema Associates is handling the steel studs, drywall, and acoustics. Caleb had a unique mentor on-site, senior foreman Andrew Pingel, who is also his uncle. Andrew has been with Ritsema Associates for 27 years and frequently hosts WBL students. 

"I love working with the students," Andrew said. "All of them that I've worked with have stayed and continued working with us." 

Thanks to the WBL Capstone, Caleb didn't just earn his diploma, credentials, and experience; he helped build a local landmark that will stand for generations. 

"It's going to be super cool to come back, you know, ten, 15 years later and be like, wow, I was a part of this." 

Caleb is continuing his journey with Ritsema Associates post-graduation, focusing on building his knowledge in the trades and sharpening his skills in carpentry.