Carmelo Castle has made history in skilled trades by being the first Texas student to complete a high school plumbing program and pass the state exam, allowing him to enter the workforce immediately.
The 18-year-old, a recent graduate of the Woodville Independent School District, completed the four-year plumbing program at Woodville High School in May. He is currently employed with Local 68 Plumbing at a second-year tradesman level.
The accomplishment represents a turning point in the district’s and the student’s career preparation initiatives. However, it wasn’t simple; as he progressed toward his goal, the teenager needed commitment that distanced him from his colleagues in high school.
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“The fact that I’m so young doing this stuff, I mean, you know, average teenagers are partying and stuff. See, I had to actually be the separate one of the group,” Castle told 12News Now.
Castle attributes his successful transition from classroom to professional work to his high school experience.
“I was so used to it as soon as I went in, to where like it didn’t really affect me,” Castle recounted.
The program, run by plumbing instructor John Bunker of Woodville High School, gives the students real-world experience in a designated shop space.
“This is our shop area right here. It’s a large shop, but we have this area right here primarily for my class, which is the plumbing class,” Bunker said.
Students who complete the program can obtain professional credentials while still in high school, which will enable them to enter the workforce right away.
“For them to be able to go through a class such as this and then qualify right away to be able to go and take their plumbing tradesman exam, and if they pass, they have a license in their pocket,” Bunker said.
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There is a rising need for qualified plumbers in the Gulf Coast area, and young people like Castle are being given opportunities by an aging workforce.
“The average age of licensed plumbers is 43 and the average age of apprentices is 37. So we need younger people coming into the workforce or we’re gonna have some problems,” Bunker explained.
Castle believes that his unconventional experience can inspire other students not interested in traditional college routes.
“It gave me a chance to actually step up in life,” he said.
“You can’t really follow the same crowd there all day, knowing that you’re not gonna get anywhere,” Castle added.
As the program continues to expand, three students from Woodville High School are expected to sit for the state plumbing exam in the next academic year.
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