On a recent morning, a group of juniors in the Career Research Academy at Westlake High School were wiring electrical outlets and installing drywall as part of an assignment to construct a fully functional kitchen.
Launched in 2023, the Career Research Academy is an immersive program designed to prepare the next generation of tradespeople. In addition to hands-on learning, the students explore the core academic subjects with respect to the skilled trades.
“We knew we had BOCES, but we needed something more,” said Nicholas DiPaolo, the program coordinator. “We wanted to make them the most marketable skilled tradespeople possible.”
DiPaolo said that in their core classes they learn various professional skills like how to write proposals, create bids and craft resumes. They also study the history of the trades and how they can impact the economy.
After morning classes, the students spend the second half of the day mastering a specific trade such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical construction at BOCES. They use the knowledge and expertise from both parts of the program to work on projects collaboratively, like constructing a kitchen.
The Town of Mount Pleasant building inspector tasked the group to build a code-complaint kitchen with supplies that were donated from Home Depot, Innovative Environmental Service, GM Power Solutions and Toll Brothers.
For a real-world experience, the students managed the entire project from submitting plans for permitting to constructing a 64-square-foot kitchen. The build spanned from floor joists to drywall, including full plumbing and electrical installation.
Max Sinno, a junior, feels the program is benefiting him for a future as an electrician.
“Instead of just going to BOCES, I’m also getting the extra work at regular school,” said Sinno. “It’s helping me get ahead.”
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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Students learn skilled trades in Westlake’s Career Research Academy
Reporting by Tania Savayan, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tania Savayan, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
