West Mesa High School students offered pre-apprenticeship trade program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – With a need for more plumbers and electricians, New Mexico is making a push to get more students in trade school, but how those students figure out which trade is most interesting to them is now the focus of a new, first-of-its-kind program in the metro.
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As a super-heated torch heats up copper, nine West Mesa High School students are getting a hands-on opportunity to figure out what path their career could take. 'Anything that helps me for the future get me a better job, higher pay,' said student Luis Zamarripa.
'I feel grateful, you know what I mean? It's a blessing to have this opportunity,' said student Noah Garcia.
Soldering pipes is just one of the many parts of this new learning experience that APS students are getting in a first-of-its-kind pre-apprenticeship program through Bernalillo County, ABC Community School Partnership, Local 412 Plumbers and Pipefitters, and the Outreach and Education Foundation, which is bringing a new career pathway to West Mesa High School.
The 120-hour program gets students learning about 13 different trades like plumbing, electrical, and more. 'That means that we recognize that the traditional route of college isn't for everybody. So we want to figure out what that means and create as many different opportunities for them in general,' said Jake Mirabal Bernco, Director of the Community School Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Department here in Bernalillo County.
Union reps said there's a major deficit in getting younger people interested in trade jobs. 'There's a huge need. We have seen shortages in the building trades, and there's national shortages in the building trades. As the older generation retires, we see 10 individuals retire out of the construction trades for every one that we replace them with.' Outreach director, said Joan Baker, UA Local 412.
While the students are learning after school, they're also getting paid to do it, plus they'll get six months worth of course credit toward a full apprenticeship program, something Noah Garcia said he hopes to use toward a full-blown career. 'Actually, I enjoy it quite a bit. I like soldering,' said Garcia.
Albuquerque Public Schools, the county, and its partners hope to expand this new program for more students next year, as well as expand on food and hospitality opportunities.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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