Featuring Hailey Hoffman of Columbus, Neb., who is majoring in Construction Management and Safety Management.
A woods class her freshman year of high school helped put Hailey Hoffman on a career path toward the construction industry. Hoffman, a junior from Columbus, Neb., who is majoring in Construction Management and Safety Management at Wayne State, is this week’s subject of the Student Spotlight Series.
“Until I got put in that class, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” said Hoffman. “From then on, I always had a woods or construction class in my schedule, and my passion for building got even stronger. The idea of building is very appealing to me because I can say that I helped change lives in my own way for as long as the building stands.”
When it came time to choose a college, a happy coincidence presented itself for Hoffman.
“It had been my dream to attend Wayne State since I was in middle school, and it has passed and exceeded all of my expectations of what I had in mind for college,” said Hoffman. “Another reason I chose Wayne State was because all my favorite middle school teachers had graduated from here. Then, when I got to high school, Wayne was the only four-year college in the state that had my degree choice, so I was happy when my only option was here.”
Luckily for Wayne State – and Wayne State’s SkillsUSA team – Hoffman found her way to campus. She’s the current president of Wayne State’s SkillsUSA organization, a national career and technical student organization. Twenty-seven Wayne State students recently competed in the state competition in Grand Island, with 24 students bringing home a medal (16 gold, four silver, four bronze).
“I’m really proud of what our chapter accomplished in Grand Island, and we’re looking forward to the national competition in Atlanta in June,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman and her competition partner, John Mann of Norfolk, Neb., are two-time defending state champions and current national champions in the Robotics (Urban Search and Rescue) category. However, Hoffman is quick to give credit to those who helped her.
“All of the industrial technology education professors are amazing, and they really foster a positive attitude while making a connection with students,” said Hoffman. “They do a lot for us, and I really appreciate every one of them. They have pushed me to be where I am now. If it was not for them, I would not be where I am today, especially with the help of Grant Schrick, Dave Hix, and Dr. Erin Arneson, and so many more Wayne State instructors.”
In addition to SkillsUSA, Hoffman is active, or has been active, at Wayne State as the president of Associated General Contractors, vice president of the Drafting and Design Club, vice president of Epsilon Pi Tau, and treasurer of the American Society of Safety Professionals. She’s also involved with Future Business Leaders America, the Wayne State Wildcat Marching Band, Phi Kappa Phi, National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Philomathean President's Honorary Society.
Hoffman will graduate in May 2026, and intends to first pursue a career as a project manager before starting her own construction company building houses.