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PIKE TOWNSHIP — Students at Pike High School are figuring out how to keep your HVAC systems up and running throughout the year, while learning valuable skills they can take with them the rest of their lives.
Pike's Career Center offers training for students so they can graduate ready to head into the HVAC industry, if that's what they choose to do.
Students learn how to install, operate and do maintenance work on HVAC systems — a career field that's currently in major need of experts.
Richard Hiles, HVAC instructor at Pike High School, says there are approximately 300,000 jobs available in the industry right now.
"Some of that's new construction work, along with commercial buildings, residential homes and service repair and replacement work," Hiles said.
The two-year course at Pike High School is helping current students be ready to jump into those positions as soon as they graduate.
"If they like being outside, they like being active and they're good at problem solving skills," Hiles said.
Along with dual college credits, students also get certifications from the EPA and OSHA which gives them more opportunities after graduation.
