CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (WDBJ) – Mountain Gateway Community College is expanding its skilled trades program.

“We’ve been wanting to expand into other trades and really position ourselves as a trade school,” said David Shofstahl, Skilled Trades Program Manager at Mountain Gateway Community College.

Mountain Gateway Community College is adding plumbing and carpentry to it’s skilled trades education program.

“It’s been a couple of years that we’ve been trying to figure out how to bring these programs to the college, you know, really excited that, you know, we’re able to meet that, meet that need really grow the next generation,” said Shofstahl.

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Officials at Mountain Gateway Community college said more students are interested in going into skilled trades as a career option.

“We filled two sections of HVAC this semester here in Clifton Forge. That was just mind blowing to us,” said Shofstahl.

He said the on-the-job training is the key to the student’s success.

“So we can teach you, you know, Ohm’s law and electrical theory, but it’s not really going to make practical sense until you’re you’re working in the field and we do see a lot more success with the students who are actively working in their trades while they’re taking the classes,” said Shofstahl.

The plumbing and carpentry programs are set to start in the spring semester.

For more information about the skilled trades programs, you can contact David Shofstahl at dshofstahl@mgcc.edu.

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