Temple High School Career and Technical Education, or CTE, program is one of the best in the state and they're celebrating that with a new, state of the art building.
Thursday morning, Temple ISD and American Constructors "topped" off the new 113,000 square foot CTE building that will be complete next summer.
"We're building to take care of a program that's already grown and done very well," Temple ISD Superintendent Robin Battershell said.
More than 80 percent of Temple High School students partake in CTE courses, programs Superintendent Battershell says a lot of thought went into developing.
"I really went to our employers and said what do you need from us so we can provide you a workforce?" Battershell added.
Temple High School students intern with employers across the city. Luis Rodriguez and Jack Miller, two class of 2018 graduates, have already secured full-time jobs with Temple Machine Shop where they were interns.
"It was an open door for me as soon as I got out. As soon as I started working here, I fell in love with the job," Luis Rodriguez said.
Miller sees it as a stepping stone.
"Work every day, save money for college and just be ready for what's next in my life," Jack Miller said.
Jacob Eubanks, on the other hand, graduated from the CTE welding program in 2016 and has already started his own welding business.
"I don't think I'd be here today, where I am right now, without the CTE program," Jacob Eubanks said. "Hopefully it's gonna get bigger and just go do bigger things and bigger projects."
All of their success provides current CTE students like Angel Burgos Castillo confidence for their future in the program.
"They were where I'm at right now... and I think it makes our school look good because it makes the program look good."
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