Lyman High School Awarded $25,000 Grant for Plumbing Skills Lab

Sanford, FL: The “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” recently announced grant recipients at 11 winning schools from across the country.  Among them is Seminole County Public Schools’ own Lyman High.  The $25,000 grant will fund the creation of a plumbing skills lab to complement the other career and technical education offerings at Lyman High School.  

“Providing our students with hands-on learning opportunities as well as helping them explore options for their future is essential in preparing them for life beyond high school,” said Michael Hunter, Principal of Lyman High School.

In its second year, the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” grant program expanded its focus to not only include the creation of new skills labs but also include middle schools and those schools in need of updated equipment. The mission of the Explore The Trades and Ferguson partnership is to build and develop the next generation of technicians.

“Our inaugural class of three skills labs last year was a true success. To make an impact at 11 school sites this year makes this initiative even sweeter,” said Explore The Trades Executive Director Kate Cinnamo. “With appreciation for our partnership with Ferguson, approximately 700 high school students and 150 middle school students will benefit from learning about the plumbing and HVAC trades this upcoming school year. And to the instructors who are leading these future trades professionals, we thank you.”

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership and provide even more opportunities for young people to learn the plumbing and HVAC trades. The program’s early success and subsequent growth is a testament to the work and leadership of Explore the Trades,” stated Melissa Hazelwood, Director of Social Impact at Ferguson. “Building new labs, renovating outdated labs, and sharing hands-on experiential learning with high school and middle school students aligns with Ferguson's mission to rebuild a sustainable skilled trades pipeline – and with the help of Explore the Trades – we are one step closer. We can't wait to see the finished labs!”

Congratulations to the following recipients!

·        Bronx Design & Construction High School – Plumbing (New York)

·        Carroll Co. Career & Technical Center – HVAC (Maryland)

·        Franklin Co. High School – Plumbing (Virginia)

·        Hastings High School – Plumbing (Michigan)

·        Lyman High School – Plumbing (Florida)

·        Milford Mill Academy – Plumbing (Maryland)

·        Roxbury High School – Plumbing (New Jersey)

·        Somerset Co. Technical High School – HVAC (Maryland)

·        SVHEC Career Tech Academy – HVAC (Virginia)

·        West Lincoln Middle School – Plumbing (North Carolina)

·        Western School of Tech & Environmental Science – Plumbing (Maryland)