Kentucky March for Life to bring faithful together in Frankfort (copy)

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Participation in post-secondary education has been on the rise since the 1950s, creating a national cultural shift — high school graduates don’t go to work, they go to school. College admissions have been growing steadily over the last half a century and to accommodate this shift, many high schools have turned into centers of college preparation. This leaves little room for the students who wish to pursue what would now be considered a non-traditional career path, such as the trades.

At Holy Cross District High School, Covington, they are bridging the divide, providing opportunities for students to explore a profession in the trades, even before graduation.

James Resing, instructor of the newly revised “Intro to the Trades” class, has three goals for the students in his class: to grow in confidence using power tools, to pick up a new hobby and “the introduction of career paths to students who might not be seeking college,” he said.

Mr. Resing’s class explores the basics of HVAC, plumbing, electric and carpentry. The students build walls, run wiring to plugs and switches, solder copper pipes and build toilets. At the end of each semester, the students participate in an “open workshop,” said Mr. Resing.

The success of the program is evident, with more classes being added due to the demand of students who wish to register. In addition, six students who have gone through Mr. Resing’s class have secured an apprenticeship in the trades.

The apprentice program is for students who have expressed an interest in a career through the trades. Structured as a cooperative education opportunity, the students are gainfully employed in a trade. They attend school for half a day, completing all their core class requirements, before heading to work.

“One of them is in facilities maintenance, one is actually working for a car dealership in mechanics, one is in HVAC and I have a couple that are with builders,” said Mr. Resing.

Hannah Knox, graduation and career counselor, said, “I’ve seen a different confidence. They have found something that excites them so they’re different at school. They want to be here; they want to be involved. Because they know that when they go to their job site, they’re going to also get to do what they love.”

Facilities maintenance apprentice, Grant, said, “I feel like it is giving me a clear path on which trades I want to get into and how to go about getting into this trade. It has given me experience while I’m still in school.” “This is all about exploration,” said Mr. Resing.

“This is all about giving them a place to try and realize it’s not for them, and then I’ll help them find something else.”

Career readiness at Holy Cross District High School means “building successful individuals who are going to be positive members in a community,” said Mrs. Knox.