Nicholas Heuner had an interest in welding when he enrolled in Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools, but that interest quickly turned into a passion and now, a profession. When Heuner graduated in 2023, he had the skills and experiences to step right into the workforce — a win for him as well as his employer, Admiral Filter Company.
February’s Career and Technical Education Month is a dedicated time to highlight success stories such as Heuner’s, but the value of a career-focused education should be celebrated year-round. Across New Jersey’s 21 county vocational-technical schools alone, more than 12,000 students participate in work-based learning annually and more than 4,500 earn industry-valued credentials. These students are taking purposeful steps to enter and immediately contribute to an industry.
Heuner is one example. In less than two years, he has taken great pride in his career and having the opportunity to participate in meaningful projects, including on U. S. Navy vessels.
“I’m ecstatic that I get to work on these projects,” said Heuner. “The education I received from SCVTS taught me everything I need to know about welding and fabrication. I had never done welding before going to SCVTS, and when I graduated, I had such an understanding that I felt that I could walk onto any job and start working.”
Like Heuner, Cody Smith is a 2023 high school graduate and is already taking on significant projects with the Union Brotherhood of Carpenters, Local 255. After graduating from the Construction Trades program at Cumberland County Technical Education Center, Smith furthered his education at Rowan University, where he earned a liberal arts degree before entering the union to pursue an apprenticeship.
Smith said CCTEC’s focus on real-world applications and problem-solving prepared him to handle challenges confidently and adapt to work environments. His education also helped him earn the opportunity to work a job at the Salem Nuclear Power Plant.
“Due to its critical role and its high-stress work environment, the Salem Nuclear Power Plant is a difficult place to get employed,” said Smith. “I believe the education and experience I received at CCTEC gave me the skillset to get this job and into the carpentry union, and to succeed and thrive in the field.”
Vincent Travascio said he used his time as a high school student at Cape May County Technical Schools to explore career options and chart his next steps.
“The education I received at Cape Tech was imperative for my career growth,” Travascio emphasized. “This school is unique because I was able to receive an education in the main subjects, like English, history, science and mathematics, while also learning a career specialty. This is important because it forces the student to think about their school career and their career beyond schooling.”
After graduating from Cape Tech’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning program in 2018, Travascio attended the Pennsylvania College of Technology and earned a Bachelor of Science in building automation systems. Building automation is the automatic centralized control of HVAC systems within large commercial buildings.
While in college, Travascio completed a summer internship in building automation with Trane Heating & Air Conditioning. By the fall of his senior year, he received a full-time job offer from the company. Travascio has been with Trane for almost three years and has even returned to his alma mater to help design the HVAC system for Cape Tech’s new addition.
Travascio is among the nearly 71 percent of New Jersey county vocational-technical school graduates who go on to pursue a two- or four-year degree. Such statistics counter longstanding misperceptions that vocational education is not for college-bound students. In fact, the county-based schools have agreements with post-secondary institutions to provide opportunities for high school students to earn college credits, with hundreds even earning an associate degree.
Additionally, the schools have evolved to offer a wide range of career programs in just about every industry. Such breadth of programming helps them meet high student demand, as well as area employer needs.
Architecture is what attracted Nikole Marin to Hudson County Schools of Technology. The 2017 high school graduate is still impressed with the highly focused education she received that prepared her to move right into a bachelor’s and then a master’s program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology before accepting an architect position with DMR Architects.
“At HCST, I gained my educational foundation and understanding of architecture,” said Marin. “Being exposed to design through different forms of creative outlets such as 3D modeling programs, 2D drawings, and laser cutting machines sparked my interest early in my career. My teacher profoundly influenced my career and inspired me to continue pursuing architecture. His engaging in-class lessons always encouraged me to explore my ideas and foster my creativity.”
Marin remembers a class trip she took with her HCST classmates that gave her insight on how architecture affects daily life. Students in the architecture program visited The High Line in New York City and were introduced to many design concepts, sustainability practices, and creative and innovative ways to reuse space. The trip’s objective was to document a series of images highlighting key design elements and use them as a collage to create a reimagined visual of the High Line.
“This was a larger lesson that I keep with me to this day and apply what I learned from it to my own design process,” said Marin. “I am grateful for my time in the HCST architecture program, and with classmates and teachers who shaped the designer I am today.”
Conversation Starter
Reach Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools at: scvths.org or call 908-526-8900.
Reach Cumberland County Technical Education Center at: cctecnj.org or call 856-451-9000.
Reach Cape May County Technical Schools at: capemaytech.com or call 609-380-0200.
Reach Hudson County Schools of Technology at: hcstonline.org or call 201-662-6791.
Celebrate CTE in New Jersey!
Throughout February’s Career and Technical Education Month, the NJ Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools has shone a spotlight on success stories linked to vocational-technical education. Follow along and read more at careertechnj.org/news.
