35 students finish carpentry pre-apprenticeship in New Jersey

Thirty-five young adults completed the Carpenters Apprentice Ready Program on Aug. 6 in Edison and Hammonton, New Jersey, and are now moving into registered carpenter apprenticeships. The graduation underscores a broader effort by Big Picture Learning, the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and the Carpenter Contractor Trust to widen union skilled-trades pathways for high school students.

Why it matters: - The program is designed to move high school students into registered apprenticeships and high-wage construction jobs. - The partnership aims to strengthen the regional skilled-trades pipeline as employers look for trained, safety-ready workers. - Bloomberg Philanthropies is backing the effort as part of its $90 million national skilled trades initiative.

What happened: - The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters recognized 35 young adults on Aug. 6 for completing the Carpenters Apprentice Ready Program. - The ceremony took place at the EAS Carpenters Technical Center. - Participants trained in Edison and Hammonton, New Jersey, during the 2026 program. - Katelyn Leppert, 18, a recent graduate of Elmwood Park High School, said she sees herself as a strong union carpenter in 20 years. - The graduates will now enter registered carpenter apprenticeships.

The details: - CARP introduces participants to carpentry, jobsite safety, construction math, proper tool use, workplace expectations and the professional skills needed for a Registered Apprenticeship. - The 2026 program also included job-seeking training. - Students learned how to build a resume, handle an interview, gather references and prepare for the carpenter’s exam. - The Carpenter Contractor Trust connects the EASRCC workforce with qualified signatory contractors. - CCT works with contractors, developers, community organizations and public officials to support the regional construction industry. - The EASRCC said CARP helps participants earn while they learn and build careers in union construction trades. - Dan Wright, CCT Workforce Development Coordinator, said the program helps contractors access a skilled, safe and dependable workforce.

Between the lines: - The initiative links schools, unions and employers earlier in the pipeline than traditional career pathways. - Big Picture Learning is using its START Center model to connect students directly to work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities. - The ceremony highlighted a shift from classroom preparation to immediate jobsite entry for graduates. - The EASRCC also recognized instructors, contractors, community organizations, families and program partners for supporting the graduates.

What's next: - The Aug. 6 graduates are now moving into registered carpenter apprenticeships. - The partners are positioning the program as a repeatable pathway for more students entering the trades. - EASRCC and Big Picture Learning are continuing to expand career pathways tied to New Jersey’s START Center initiative.

The bottom line: - The program turns high school-to-career planning into a direct pipeline into union construction work, with 35 new graduates ready to start earning and learning.