Gallatin program has youth thinking early about a career in trade work

SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — More Tennesseans are choosing higher education. And it’s not just four-year universities. Thousands more are entering TCAT programs, community colleges are seeing more students, too.

A look at the equipment in the shop at Gallatin High School makes you think you are in a factory, or a body shop. You’re not. You’re actually in Coach Parker’s machining class on a Tuesday morning in October.

Christian Philpot said he started thinking about a career in machining in 8th grade when he got a 3D printer for Christmas.

“One time I printed an entire mechanical arm that went over my entire arm,” said Philpot, a junior at Gallatin High School. “With trade school, I can definitely see a lot more freedom. And just a lot more probability of success overall…That brings in the money. That brings in the success.”

In just a single year in Tennessee, from the 2022 to 2023 school year, TCAT enrollment soared from 23,818 students to 28,732. And, the community college population increased from 71,804 to 74,401.

“Higher education, especially in Tennessee, is very accessible,” said Dr. Wendi Tostenson, president, Volunteer State Community College.

Dr. Tostenson highlights the increased flexibility in higher education for students to transfer between trade school, community colleges, and universities. And, adults to return to higher education through Tennessee Reconnect .

“I always think of education as an interstate. We have on-ramps, off-ramps, and exits, sometimes we stay somewhere a little bit longer. And that’s what Tennessee has done. It has provided students with opportunities to move through education,” said Dr. Tostenson.

Gallatin Senior JT Whitehead is eyeing a technical school after graduation.

“Instantly I knew that I loved this program, and I loved welding,” said Whitehead.

One day he wants a welding business of his own, hopefully working with fast cars. “I’m really big into race cars, drag cars, drift cars, things like that.”

He sees a welding program at a TCAT as a more financially responsible option than a business degree at a four-year university and thousands of dollars in student loans.

“The money. That is a big part of it. That is a big part of it. The money…I don’t really want to go another four years of school. And I want to just go and get what I want to get done, and learn it and then go and use that for my work.”

A statewide effort to get more young people into certifications and trade programs launched in 2023 just down the street from Gallatin High School at Vol State; It’s called Be Pro Be Proud. This program takes the pro-trade message on the road – literally. A massive bus visits students across Tennessee, showing them first-hand the career possibilities in trade work.

In fact, the next stop is Hohenwald at the end of the month. The goal is to get youth thinking about their options early. And knowing that they even have them.

“It just opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me. It started hitting me – this can be a whole career path for me,” said Philpot.

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