MOUNT VERNON – The Knox County Career Center Building Trades program recognized three students who earned the status of “Building Trades Elite.”
“Building Trades Elite” (BT Elite) is a program generated by Colby Clippinger, KCCC Building Trades instructor, and the KCCC Building Trades Advisory Council, which began in 2019-2020. Students earn points for attendance, grades, industry credentialing and extracurricular activities. Students can lose points for being tardy or absent, and for discipline issues. In order to earn “BT Elite” status, students must maintain 250 points or higher until graduation.
The “BT Elite” program is completely company-sponsored, according to Clippinger. Students who earn “BT Elite” status are awarded a hoodie and an interview shirt. The companies pay for the hoodies and interview shirts. The hoodie has the Building Trades Elite Crest on the back along with the company sponsors. The student’s name and “BT Elite” are on the front of the hoodie. The interview shirt has “BT Elite” and the student’s name on the front.
“We appreciate the companies who have partnered with us on the BT Elite program," Clippinger said. "The BT Elite program creates a well-rounded and ready-to-hire student.”
Seniors Jonathan Hamman, Andrew Workman and Nathan Cox earned “BT Elite” status last week and received their hoodies and interview shirts. Eleven students from the Building Trades program earned “BT Elite” status last year.
“These students have obtained another level. The program has done what it was supposed to do and creates recognizable students that are ready to go into the trades,” Clippinger said.
KCCC and the Building Trades program would like to thank the companies who sponsor “BT Elite”: J & B Acoustical, Ohio Contractors Association, ProTech Basement Solutions, LiUNA! Local 1216, Kokosing, Corna Kokosing, Brennstuhl Construction, Modern Builders, Gray Mechanical, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 735, and Rietschlin Construction.
