One aspect of graduating from the Williamson College of the Trades in Media is that almost every graduate already has a job before commencement, writes Chris O’Connell for Fox 29.

Since 1988, the three-year college has provided intensive training in six trade programs.

Because the school has developed a reputation for producing well-trained, quality tradesman, 98 percent of graduates will walk out with a good-paying job.

Last year more than 200 companies from 19 states paid big money to attend Williamson’s Career Fair for the opportunity to recruit one of the 85 graduates

“I think we realized that, during the pandemic, we were putting ourselves at risk if we can’t manufacture, if we can’t build things, if we can’t do the work ourselves,” said Williamson President Michael Rounds.

There are working classrooms in carpentry,, stone and masonry, and a working steam-fired power plant.

The school’s grounds are maintained by horticulture and landscaping students.

Josh Kirkpatrick, a senior from Springfield, will graduate from Williamson May 23 with two job offers and a hope of owning his own company one day.  

“This place teaches you things that I think have been lost in society. It teaches you how to become a really good man.”

Read more about the Williamson College of he Trades at Fox 29.