This story is part of a series of interviews with former Fred Eberle Technical Center students who talk about their time at the school and where they are today.

BUCKHANNON – Although challenging work may be off-putting, one Fred W. Eberle Technical Center graduate overcame those obstacles and succeeded in the carpentry program.  

Angel Burns, a 2020 graduate of the carpentry program at FETC, recognized challenging work pays off with each project completed.  

“Seeing the before and after was amazing,” Burns said. “Woodworking really called out to me.”  

Fred W. Eberle Technical Center is a vocational school that offers students a variety of trade programs. FETC fosters a career-based learning environment for students from North Central West Virginia. The carpentry program allows students to gain knowledge and hands-on experience in the woodworking trade.

The carpentry program may be completed in a full-time (1 year) or part-time (two-year) curriculum. Nearing completion of the program, students may earn the National Center for Construction and Research (NCCER) and OSHA 10 certifications.  

“There is always something to do — you’re never bored,” Burns said. “This program really gets your foot in the door [for a career].”  

FETC instructors, administration and fellow students encouraged Burns to compete in the Skills USA competition during her senior year.

“Everyone was saying ‘You can do it!’” she recalled.

The helpful attitudes of carpentry instructors Lee Fletcher and Randy Cunningham made successfully completing challenging projects possible and rewarding.  

“Things that I thought I couldn’t do, were easy for me with help from Lee and Randy,” Burns said. “There’s a lot that goes into it.”  

For students looking to take their next steps, Burns suggests contacting FETC for guidance. 

“Give it a chance, it could be your foot in the door [into your future],” said Burns.  

Applications are currently open for all programs at FETC for the 2022-2023 academic year. The application deadline for the carpentry program is August 15, 2022. Students interested in applying for the FETC program are encouraged to call the front office at 304-472-1259 or contact FETC online. The campus is located at 208 Morton Avenue in Buckhannon.