Our High School Pre-Apprenticeship program is hitting its stride this year, and the improvements are showing in what our students can build - literally.

The program gives high school seniors hands-on construction training during their morning classes. Students spend two semesters learning the fundamentals through NCCER Core curriculum and OSHA 10, operating forklifts, and working with actual tools on real projects.

So far, the best endorsement a student has given is:

Now I don't want to go back to school.

A common sentiment, sure—but at least they're enjoying construction.

‍What's New This Year

We've transformed how we teach. With up to three instructors working alongside students at once, we're often achieving a 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio. That means more direct mentorship and hands-on guidance for every student.

Our students are now building sheds from the ground up. They're learning the full scope of construction - from laying floor frames to interior finishing. We're watching seniors who struggled with classroom math confidently apply measurements and calculations to real construction problems. When you see math work in the real world, it clicks differently.

This level of training only happens with community support. Home Depot provided building materials for our shed floor frames plus a professional toolbox to organize our equipment. Gallup Portable Storage and Transport LLC is sponsoring work uniforms for all our high school students - we'll share photos once they arrive.

These students aren't just learning skills - they're building confidence and discovering career paths they hadn't considered. They'll graduate having gained an understanding of construction fundamentals, practical experience, and connections to local employers.

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