This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
PLEASANT GAP — The future of Pennsylvania’s workforce may be taking shape in the classrooms and workshops at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, where a unique partnership with the Pennsylvania Builders Association is giving students hands-on experience and statewide recognition.
This year, CPI’s carpentry students, guided by instructor Marty Crane and supported by local builders, earned the Pennsylvania Builders Association’s 2024 Community Project of the Year Award. The honor came for their work on the grand entry at the Builders Association Home Expo — a project that combined classroom lessons with real-world problem solving.
The entryway was no ordinary assignment. Students built a structure that showcased both the polished interior and the behind-the-scenes framework of a home.
“On one side it was a completely finished 8-by-8 room, and on the other side it was left where you could see the mechanical parts,” Executive Officer of Builders Association of Central PA Keri O’Shea said. “It gave people the chance to see the before and after, and for the students it was about as true of an experience as we could possibly give.”
For the teens who framed walls, installed flooring and trimmed windows, the project meant far more than grades. They had to deal with real challenges, from ordering mistakes to making the structure portable for transport to the expo.
“That was probably the biggest challenge,” Crane said. “But it was also the biggest benefit. They had to figure it out like they would on an actual jobsite, and that’s experience you can’t replicate in a classroom.”
Students said the lessons stuck. Senior Logan Hilliard said hands-on training gave him confidence in his abilities.
“Just making something that looks nice,” Hilliard said. “Maybe I can start on my own sometime, have my own business or work for another company and work my way up.”
Classmate Brogan Glenn echoed the sentiment, noting that attention to detail became second nature.
“I did a lot of drywall and trim around the windows,” he said. “You want to make it look perfect because once you’re in a real home, you have to get those things right. That was very helpful.”
The program also reflects a broader industry challenge. Across the country, the average tradesperson is in their 50s, and businesses are scrambling to prepare for the next generation of carpenters, electricians and equipment operators.
“There’s going to be a shortage,” Dave Asencio, owner of EBY Paving and Construction said. “If you’re a skilled tradesperson in a few years, you’ll be in demand. You’ll be able to name your price.”
Asencio believes students need more exposure to the trades to see the opportunities available.
“Everybody hears ‘you need to go to college,’” he said. “But higher education has gotten so expensive, and these kids can start making money at 18. If they learn a trade, they can work for someone else or open up their own shop. The sky’s the limit.”
For CPI students, the connection to the Builders Association opens doors that might not exist elsewhere. Crane emphasized that partnerships like this are rare.
“There’s nothing like this going on anywhere,” he said. “These kids are seeing the entire process — from excavation to finished product. That wouldn’t be possible without this partnership.”
At a recent recognition event held at CPI, students posed with the statewide award, then sat down with local builders to ask questions and swap stories. Between cookies and water bottles, they networked with potential future employers and mentors.
For the young tradespeople, it was clear they were already laying the foundation for more than just a classroom project.
They were building their futures.
