Jellico High School Construction program receives grant from BXTN

Jellico High School’s Construction and Carpentry program received a grant for $1,991 from Builders Exchange Tennessee to use to expand the school’s program and add plumbing. Pictured holding the check is Bruce Meck from BXTN and Jellico Carpentry Instructor Jay Davis, right, with his class behind them.

By Charlotte Underwood

JELLICO, TN (WLAF) – The Jellico High School Construction and Carpentry program is about to expand with plumbing classes thanks to a nearly $2,000 grant from the Builders Exchange of Tennessee (BXTN).

Jellico High School Construction and Carpentry Instructor Jay Davis applied for the grant through BXTN with the idea that he could add plumbing courses for the students if he had the funding for supplies.

The Builders Exchange of Tennessee” loves to partner with area schools”, according to BXTN Education and Recruitment Coordinator Bruce Meck who showed up on Tuesday morning with the “big check” to present to Davis and the students. The check was for $1,991.

“Back in 2018 we started construction trades partnership between the University of Tennessee, other area colleges and high schools. It was a way for us to give back to the industry and get kids interested in the trade,” Meck said. This is the fourth year BXTN has had the “gift program” providing scholarships for area schools. His company also participates in career fairs, trade competitions and more. They hold the BXTN High School Construction Trade Competition each November for high schools in East Tennessee. This year it will be at the Jacobs Building in Knoxville.

Last year, 84 Lumber donated wood and supplies for the students to use during the competition.

According to Jellico Career and Technical Education Coach Lisa Bolton, these construction competitions help the school out tremendously.

“If you stay and help break down stuff after the competitions, you get to bring a lot of it back to the school for the construction program; last year we got around $2,000 worth of lumber to bring back and use and that is such a big help to us and a plus for our construction program,” Bolton said.

Jellico Construction and Carpentry Teacher Jay Davis said the grant funds for the plumbing program were a “huge blessing” for his classes and the carpentry program in general.

Jellico High School received a check for nearly $2,000 from Builders Exchange Tennessee to expand its carpentry program to include plumbing. Pictured left to right is Builders Exchange Tennessee Education and Recruitment Coordinator Bruce Meck, Jellico High School Career and Technical Education Coach Lisa Bolton and Jellico Carpentry Instructor Jay Davis.

Jellico High School received a check for nearly $2,000 from Builders Exchange Tennessee to expand its carpentry program to include plumbing. Pictured left to right is Builders Exchange Tennessee Education and Recruitment Coordinator Bruce Meck, Jellico High School Career and Technical Education Coach Lisa Bolton and Jellico Carpentry Instructor Jay Davis.

“We can’t thank BXTN enough for this; it allows us to bring opportunities for the students that they didn’t have before. Our goal is to expand the program with plumbing, and we needed supplies and materials to do that,” Davis said.

The expansion to the program will start at the beginning of the next school year.

He will be teaching the students some of the basics of the plumbing trade such as basic sink installation, toilet supply lines, repairs and more.

“These are extremely beneficial skills for the students to learn even if they don’t go into it professionally, they will be able to fix their own and they will be able to hand that knowledge down to their kids and grandkids and that’s what it’s all about,” Davis said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/10/2024-6AM)