Students at Tennessee Middle School and Tennessee High School had the opportunity this week to step inside one of the nation’s most innovative career-exploration experiences: the Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop.
The high-tech “Career Truck," a fully equipped, interactive trailer featuring simulators for in-demand skilled professions, visited BTCS from December 2–5, providing hands-on exposure to high-wage, high-need career paths.
Be Pro Be Proud is a national nonprofit that connects students and young adults to post-secondary training opportunities and raises awareness of high-skill, high-demand careers. The Tennessee truck is now in its third year on the road and has reached more than 40,000 students across the state.
Inside the expansive mobile lab, students tested their skills on simulators used in professions such as welding, heavy equipment operation, CNC machining, utility line work, transportation, and robotics. Each station mirrors real-world tools and controls, giving students an authentic feel for what these careers require.
“We’re here to spark interest.”
Tour operators Jason and Allison Lewis, who travel with the mobile rig throughout Tennessee, say the goal is simple: open students’ eyes to opportunities they may not have considered.
“We’re here to promote these high-skill professions and hopefully spark interest in the skilled trades,” said Jason Lewis. “A lot of students have never had the chance to try welding or sit at the controls of heavy equipment. When they realize they can do it, that changes everything.”
Virtual welding has been one of the most popular stations. Students don a welding helmet and use a hand-held tool to create a simulated weld, receiving instant feedback on speed, angle, and technique. “A lot of kids come in nervous,” Lewis said. “But once they try it, they realize, ‘I can actually do this.’ That’s huge.”
High school CTE students step in as mentors
Several Tennessee High School CTE students helped staff the stations throughout the week. Senior Averie Cuddy, part of the marketing team for CTE, demonstrated the virtual welding simulator to younger students.
“It’s a great way for them to try something that might seem scary at first,” Cuddy said. “They get a score at the end, and they love that. It really shows them whether this is something they might want to pursue.”
Alumni success on display
One highlight of the week was the return of Chris Cowden, a Tennessee High School graduate who took machining, automotive, and construction courses during high school. Cowden—now a fourth-year apprentice lineman at Bristol Tennessee Essential Services—staffed the lineman simulator and talked with students about his career path.
Cowden’s presence underscored the real-world impact of CTE programs and community partnerships. “Seeing a former student thriving in a high-demand trade and now giving back to current students is exactly what this work is all about,” said BTCS CTE Director Deidre Pendley.
A timely experience for eighth-grade students preparing for registration
For Tennessee Middle School eighth graders, the timing could not have been better. Students will complete interest and aptitude assessments in January and begin registering for high school courses in February.
Pendley shared that interest in CTE is at an all-time high. “During a recent schoolwide presentation, nearly half of our eighth graders raised their hands when asked if they were already taking a high school-credit CTE course,” she said. “They’re excited about opportunities like work-based learning and want to start early so they can spend their junior and senior years working in the community.”
BTCS currently offers CTE programs of study in areas such as health science, information technology, entrepreneurship, teaching as a profession, digital arts (coming soon), and ROTC (launching next semester).
Opening doors—and building futures
For many students, the Be Pro Be Proud experience introduced entirely new career options. As one student shared after trying the construction simulator, “I never thought construction would be fun—but now I’m interested.”
Pendley sees that as the heart of the event’s impact. “Career exploration at this age is powerful,” she said. “When students get hands-on experiences like this, it helps them make informed decisions and keeps them engaged in building a pathway for their future.”
The Be Pro Be Proud visit is one more layer in BTCS’s growing slate of career-connected learning opportunities—made possible through strong community partnerships and a districtwide commitment to preparing students for success in high-demand fields.