WACO, Texas — Seven students celebrated their graduation from the fully funded Multi-Craft Core Curriculum, also known as MC3, Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, during the MC3 Graduation and Signing Day on Friday, June 12.
The two-week training program provided students with essential trade skills through classroom instruction and hands-on learning. Participants gained the foundational skills needed to begin as first-year apprentices while exploring multiple career pathways in the skilled trades.
Graduates earned an MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Certificate from North America’s Building Trades Unions, a CPR/First-Aid Certificate and continuing education credits from McLennan Community College. Many graduates have already secured employment with leading industry employers and are preparing to begin work at job sites across the region.
For graduates, the program offered more than training. It gave them the opportunity to explore different trades, build confidence, and make informed decisions about their future careers.
David Baker (pictured below, far right), a recent graduate, said his favorite part of the program was learning how to read blueprints and cross-reference architectural plans with electrical plans. “MC3 was inclusive of all the trades,” Baker said. “They incorporated plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and more, so we could get a better understanding of each trade and make an informed decision about which career path is the best fit for us.”
Jayden Jones (pictured above, far left) said the program gave him a strong start toward a career in the skilled trades. “The MC3 program has been a great start to my career,” Jones said. “We learned about OSHA, safety practices, electrical work, bending conduit, pipefitting, and more. It helped get my foot in the door and introduced me to the different trades, who we can work with, and what we may want to do.”
Jones said the program also helped students better understand what to expect as they move into apprenticeships and job sites. “It allows union leaders to connect us with worksites and helps us understand what to expect as an apprentice,” Jones said.
Through MC3, graduates are leaving with industry-recognized credentials, hands-on experience, and a clearer path toward careers in the skilled trades. For many, the program marks the first step toward long-term employment, apprenticeship opportunities, and continued growth in high-demand industries across the region.
The MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program is a collaborative initiative of Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas, IBEW Local Union 72, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 529, McLennan Community College, and Texas Workforce Commission.