CFNN Reporter Addison Davis and Peyton Eason

On Friday January 9th, Cape Fear High School celebrated the students that were a part of the first Pipeline Academy in Cumberland County. 

The Pipeline Academy partnered with licensed plumbers and Fayetteville Technical Community College to provide students with hands-on learning experiences in plumbing to give them valuable skills for future careers, as well as an important opportunity to network in the trade community. This experience is meant to provide on the job skill training and avenues for employment after high school. 

The Pipeline Academy started in October, and the students earned their certificates Friday night. There were a total of six different sessions for the students. These sessions included the Intro session, Tool basics, Toilet and Faucet Repair, Leak Detection, Community Outreach and the Certificate Ceremony.

Each session provided the students with a lesson and an opportunity to practice the featured skill of the meeting.  

“My favorite part of the Pipeline Academy was learning how to put in toilets and taking them out,” said sophomore Eason Turner. 

During Session 4, Leak Detection and Repair, the students were able to learn from Sealey’s Well Drilling. James Sealey and his family taught the students about the well-drilling industry, including the licensing and certification process, operating drilling rigs, soil and dirt modification types, required permits, blueprints, and vital paperwork that supports the field. Then, students got to practice all the skills they learned with hands-on practice in leak detection and soldering. 

This Academy was free to all students thanks to our sponsors and one of our own Assistant Principals, Mrs. Marrisa Fux.  

“I feel elated and happy for the students involved. Being at the ceremony it showed how many supporters we have. Even though we are a first year academy I was really proud of how much community support and partnerships we got that let us take courses at FTCC and opened up Internship possibilities,” said Mrs. Fux

A special thank you goes out to the following sponsors who played a pivotal role in making the Pipeline Academy a success: McKenzie’s Plumbing, Sealey’s Well Drilling, H2O Plumbing, Bliss Adams, Jaqueline Turner, Alex & Erica Garcia, Billy Cain from Billy’s Plumbing Service, Polished by Summer, CCS CTE, and South River Electric Grant Recipient. 

“The Pipeline Academy impacted me by giving me an opportunity that most students around me don’t get and it showed me what it would be like having a future in trade,” said Owen Driggers eagerly. 

This Academy gave students exposure to plumbing and trade careers, opportunities to build practical real world skills, a pathway toward future education, and a potential opportunity for paid internships within CCS. 

“After being a part of the Academy I see pipeline being in my future because of the opportunities and partnerships through the academy,” said by Jacob LeBlanc, a member of the Pipeline Academy. 

Mrs. Fux plans to have mini workshops through the pipeline academy this next semester that will be open to all students. The pipeline academy will open back up next fall semester. 

“This Pipeline Academy reminded me as a leader that love, joy, connection and learning can all coexist,” said Mrs. Fux happily.