TAMUK launches skilled trades program at Benavides High School

Benavides High School students will soon be able to learn carpentry, electrical work and HVAC in their own community, as Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the Rural Schools Innovation Zone prepare to launch a skilled trades partnership in August 2026. For families in Benavides and across Jim Wells County, the payoff is straightforward: a local path into work that employers actually need.

The program is built around access. Students will not have to wait until after graduation to find out whether a technical career fits them, and they will be able to earn industry certifications while gaining real-world experience tied to local job needs. That makes the answer to the parent question, “what can my kid do with this after graduation?” much more concrete. It offers a route into skilled work that starts before a diploma is even in hand, instead of requiring a student to commit first to a four-year college track.

TAMUK says its Javelina Skilled Trades Academy already prepares people for careers in construction, energy, broadband, manufacturing, renewable energy and weatherization. The academy’s curriculum is designed around NCCER Core certification, a credential that gives students a recognized foundation for the trades. TAMUK also says its Workforce Development office exists to meet high-demand workforce needs and bridge academic achievement with workforce needs through partnerships, professional development and career training, with help from Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend on labor-market information.

The Benavides effort fits a broader pattern of rural pipeline-building at the university. In April 2025, Rural Schools Innovation Zone superintendents signed a letter of commitment to physically transport incoming freshmen to TAMUK for a 42 Core Pathway. In 2024, TAMUK said RSIZ school districts and the FAST program helped drive the university’s dual-enrollment success. The new Benavides partnership extends that approach by bringing hands-on training directly to the high school campus instead of asking rural students to travel for every opportunity.

TAMUK’s news index listed the Benavides skilled trades partnership on May 4, underscoring that the work is already moving from concept to implementation. For Benavides families, the message is clear: the district is not only preparing students for college, it is building a visible route into training, certification and regional jobs that can keep more young people connected to Jim Wells County after graduation.