When Samantha Colina Wuertter moved from Venezuela to Florida in 2020, construction was not part of her plan. She arrived at the height of COVID, adjusting to a new country, a new school system and a new language.

For years, she assumed she would follow her family’s path and own a small business. That changed when she enrolled at Tocoi Creek High School’s Academy of Innovation in the Built Environment.

“The academy changed me and my perspective,” Wuertter said. “It showed me that I really like designing for construction. Architecture and engineering are so cool, and I’m constantly learning new skills.”

Under the leadership of Built Environment teacher Chris McKinney, with support from the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) and its Professional Women in Building (PWB) council, students are assigned projects that require them to work in teams to take their project from concept to completion, drafting designs, creating schedules and layouts, gathering materials and constructing their projects.

“You learn how an idea goes from an idea on paper or a whiteboard and slowly evolves to something real and usable that you helped build,” Wuertter said.

The program is intentionally hands-on. The students learn project coordination, budgeting, scheduling and teamwork, fundamental elements in real-world construction.

AutoCAD drafting was not required for her class projects. Wuertter chose to do it anyway. When she first opened AutoCAD, she wondered if she was making a mistake.

“At first, I thought, ‘Oh, maybe this is not for me,’” she said. “I was overwhelmed and had to get familiar with the software and process. My teachers were incredibly supportive and helped me understand the basics. I kept working on it and practicing, got familiar with the program, and realized, ‘Yeah, I really like this.’”

She said building raised planter boxes as a project stood out for her. She particularly enjoyed the coordination process.

“It wasn’t just building,” she said. “We had to work on the budget, the schedule, the materials and have a plan to bring that all together. It was really satisfying to see all these pieces start in such different places and then come together in the final build with everyone.”

Language was an early challenge when she immigrated. Spanish is her first language, and she still occasionally needs extra time to process unfamiliar terms or phrases.

Rather than view that as a limitation, she treats it like any other learning process, asking questions and practicing diligently.

Haskell Craft Instructor and active NEFBA volunteer Michael Osborne is an avid participant in the academy and a firm believer in its mission.

“Teaching the trades can be challenging,” Osborne said. “Watching the students rise to the challenge and work together to bring their projects to life is amazing.

“Samatha’s story is an inspiration. Watching her grow shows me the possibilities of this industry. I have no doubt she’s going places.”

Whether adapting to student life in a new country, mastering unfamiliar software or stepping into hands-on construction projects, Wuertter brings curiosity, optimism and determination.

“My teachers have given me so much,” she said. “Chris McKinney, Mr. Gupo, Mr. Mike and everyone else have all been so kind and supportive. I know I wouldn’t be here without all the time and care they give me. I’m so grateful to have them in my life. I hope to make them proud.”

Wuertter’s current focus is going to college, where she hopes to explore careers in construction management or civil engineering.

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