Six young men from Rhea County High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee will cross the stage tonight (May 19, 2023) to receive their high school diplomas. Once the ceremony is over, they’ll trade their caps and gowns for hardhats and tool belts, as the newest members of the carpenters union!

Jacob Vaughn, Damon Brock, Christopher Dannel, Tanner Reed, Jayden Woods, and Kanean Morgan visited the Tri-State Carpenters Apprenticeship Center in Chattanooga this week and joined Local 74 of the Southeastern Carpenters Regional Council. The group were all students of Scott Heath’s Vocational Education class throughout high school.

“Rhea County has a great construction program, and Scott Heath does a great job teaching his students about the carpentry profession,” said Rodney Graham, Business Manager of Local 74. “We at Local 74 and the apprenticeship training staff wish these men the best of luck. We look forward to working with them as they launch their careers.”