2025 Kettle Run High School graduate Oscar Burgoa credits the Plumbing and Welding classes he took at Laurel Ridge Community College with helping him thrive in his job with the local electrical union.
He was still a high school student when he began coming to the Fauquier Campus during the school day for the Plumbing Trades Academy. He took Plumbing classes in the morning before returning to Kettle Run for the remainder of the day. Burgoa later took Welding classes through Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions.
“I chose go to the academy because it was a good opportunity, and I knew it was going to teach me a lot,” Burgoa said. “The classes were really good, but I think they taught me more on how to deal with certain situations in the workplace and also to learn about specific tools (that are used across various trades).
“I was able to learn a lot – I had a good Welding teacher, Rick Nawrocki. He definitely got me ready for the work field. He prepared me how to do things and how to have a good work ethic.”
As soon as he graduated, Burgoa was brought into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26, which is providing him with electrical training. He said he had a few options when it came to where he would work, but the union had been recommended by some of his instructors at Laurel Ridge.
“I’m taking all the skills I learned from both my Plumbing and my Welding classes and using them every day,” Burgoa said.
He said he would “100 percent” recommend the Trades Academy.
“It’s definitely a great option to go into,” Burgoa said. “It teaches you a lot. It’s more serious. There’s a lot of trade classes in high school, and a lot of students don’t take them seriously. When you get into the college-level, you have to take it serious.”