Vista Grande High School Pilots Innovative Workforce Program

This year, 13 seniors at Vista Grande High School in Taos are participating in an innovative workforce training program in collaboration with UNM-Taos, Habitat for Humanity, the Local 412 Pipefitters union and Los Alamos National Labs. The students are completing a course of study called "MC3", or Multi-Craft Core Curriculum, developed by a consortium of trades unions in the US. Upon completion, students will qualify for automatic acceptance into well-paying apprenticeships with local 412 and other trades unions in New Mexico.

UNM-Taos provides instructors for the hands-on and OSHA 10 portions of the MC3 course. Habitat for Humanity provides practical experience on a build site, where students are helping to construct a home for a local Taos family. The local 412 provides financial support for the students' MC3 modules and work-based learning activities such as classroom visits. Los Alamos National Labs (LANL) provides activities such as speakers and field trips. Students will be eligible for employment at LANL upon completion of the MC3 program.

Best of luck to all the Vista Grande High School participants!