Carmelo Castle, 18, graduated in May from Woodville High School’s four-year-old plumbing program and now works at a second-year tradesman level.
WOODVILLE, Texas — A recent Woodville Independent School District graduate is breaking new ground in skilled trades, becoming the first student in Texas to complete a high school plumbing program and pass the state exam to enter the workforce directly.
Carmelo Castle, 18, graduated in May from Woodville High School’s four-year-old plumbing program and now works at a second-year tradesman level for Local 68 Plumbing.
The achievement marks a milestone for both the student and the district’s career preparation efforts.
“It gave me a chance to actually step up in life,” Castle said.
Castle’s path required dedication that set him apart from his peers during high school.
“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 said.
The transition from classroom to professional work proved smooth for Castle, who credits his high school training.
“I was so used to it as soon as I went in, to where like it didn’t really affect me,” Castle said.
John Bunker, Woodville High School’s plumbing instructor, oversees the program that provides students hands-on experience in a dedicated shop area.
“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.
The program allows students to earn professional credentials while still in high school, giving them immediate entry into the workforce.
“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.
The Gulf Coast region faces a growing need for skilled plumbers, with an aging workforce creating opportunities for young workers like Castle.
“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 said.
Castle believes his unconventional path offers valuable lessons for other students considering alternatives to traditional college routes.
“You can’t really follow the same crowd there all day, knowing that you’re not gonna get anywhere,” Castle said.
The program continues to grow, with three Woodville High School students expected to take the state plumbing exam during the upcoming school year.