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Wednesday, May 25, 9:00am – A signing day was held for four students of South Point High School for joining the inaugural cohort of the Utility Construction Program, a joint venture with local company CJ Hughes Construction. This program will provide students with a Utility Construction Certificate and a Utility Construction Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree starting fall 2022. The 11-month certificate program will teach the foundations of utility construction while offering paid on-the-job training throughout the course. The first 8 weeks are dedicated solely to safety training preparing them for their on-the-job training. The field experience will be focused on natural gas and water distribution, pipeline construction, industrial/mechanical maintenance, and project management.
Jacob “JT” Morrison, Zachary “Zach” Nance, William “Cody” Berkley, Ethan Thompson will all be recognized and signing as part of the cohort beginning in August.
Zach Nance was the first student to apply to the Utility Construction Program. He recently completed his certification in Heavy Equipment Operation from Collins Career Technical Center in addition to his high school diploma.
JT Morrison loves the outdoors. He spends his free time working at Lowe’s and fishing whenever he has the opportunity. JT was also a member of the football team throughout his time in high school.
Cody Berkley will be graduating cum laude with a 3.36 GPA. He spent his junior year at Collins Career Technical Center but returned to the home school for his senior year.
Ethan Thompson is a huge Notre Dame football fan and University of Kentucky basketball fan. Ethan was unsure about his plans beyond high school but knew he wanted to work with his hands. This program will be a fantastic opportunity for Ethan to explore his interests and gain valuable skills along the way.
South Point High School Guidance Counselor Megan Lemon was integral in bringing this opportunity in front of the students. “It is the mission of the South Point Local School District to educate, motivate, and graduate all students with Spirit, Pride, and Respect–preparing them for a successful and productive life. Part of this mission includes helping students identify a path for their lives beyond graduation day. Every year, we encounter students who are at a loss regarding their plans beyond high school. Many of these students desire an education beyond a high school diploma but do not wish to pursue a four-year degree. These students also love hands-on learning. As a school, we saw this program as an opportunity to guide these students into a career field where they can experience success, enjoy career growth through leadership, pursue additional education if desired, and introduce a career field where jobs are readily available close to home.”
Learn more about the Mountwest/CJ Hughes Utility Construction Program here.
WSAZ – Construction program will pay students while they’re in school