VCSC building trades students close to finishing program’s 37th house

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Every year since 1987 the Vigo County School Corporation’s building trades pathway program teaches teenagers to build a house from scratch.

Student Jonathan Johnson said this experience is something that he can’t put a price tag on.

“I think that it is going to feel great that I have the experience,” he said. “I think it is going to help me in the long run if I want to come back and run my own business or working in the union, it is going to help me in the long run.”

Johnson enjoys the fact that he gets to do the work he loves doing while in high school.

“It was a great feeling knowing that they have this for people like me that want to do it,” he said.

VCSC’s technical education director Doug Dillion said these students leave with valuable experience.

“These kids are setting themselves apart when they do these career pathways from other kids that maybe didn’t take advantage of these opportunities to be ahead of other kids when they go to the next level,” he said.

He emphasized that it creates tools that will be with students for the rest of their lives.

“Parents are guiding their kids to make decisions that will help them be successful in life, and this is an example of one of those career pathways where they will always have a career no matter what community, though we hope they stay in our community, they can make a living wage and have a good life for their family,” he said.

There will be an open house for the latest home on May 16 where they will then announce its price ahead of sale.

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