Middleburgh Teen Taps into New Career Aspiration at BOCES

SCHOHARIE – Dalton Porter was planning for a career in construction, but a lesson at Capital Region BOCES by a local plumbing union has him tapping into a new line of work.

The Middleburgh High School senior plans to join the UA Local 7, Plumbers and Steamfitters union after graduating from high school and the Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus in June.

“BOCES put me in pretty good shape. There are a lot of opportunities for kids out there, and you must take them to succeed,” he said.

The opportunity Porter is pursuing began as a presentation during his junior year by representatives of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union who led a week-long lesson on plumbing for juniors at BOCES.

“At the end, they handed us a paper with information on it and showed us the benefits, and it looked good, and I enjoyed the work, so I decided to pursue it,” Porter said.

Because he is graduating from BOCES in a construction-related trade, Porter will qualify to enter the union as a third-year apprentice, giving him a good head start on the five-year apprenticeship required to become a journeyman plumber.

“That’s a great bonus,” he said. “Why not pursue the career if you like the work?”

Students on the Career & Technical Education Center – Schoharie and Albany campuses have benefitted for several years from lessons led by the Plumbers and Steamfitters union.

During the lessons, students learn the basics of plumbing, including PVC draining/vent fittings, basic plumbing code, plumbing math, jobsite safety and how to install a sink.

Union representative Seth Madden said earlier this year that the goal is to “teach the students that working with your hands, getting them dirty isn’t something to be embarrassed about. There are great jobs in the trades, and I think, of course, that plumbing is the best job.”

“Plumbing is a career that can’t be replaced by AI,” fellow union member Scott Nadeau said.  

Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle said the partnership with the plumbing union has outfitted hundreds of students with the skills necessary to get a start in the plumbing industry or offer those services as a side business.

As a result of the strong interest among students and demand for workers in the industry, BOCES will launch its own full-time Plumbing Technology program for high school students starting in the fall of 2025.

The one-year program will be a comprehensive, hands-on program designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the plumbing industry. 

Students will learn essential skills, including safety protocols, plumbing math and blueprint reading, while working with various piping materials such as plastic and copper. 

The course covers key plumbing systems such as drain, waste, and vent (DWV) systems, water distribution, and much more.