From pouring a foundation to putting on the finishing touches, students in the Building Trades program at Sanford Regional Technical Center learn every stage of building a home. The program covers every aspect of residential construction, from framing to finish work. Each group of students works together to complete a full house build, which is then sold to a member of the community, making the work as real as it gets. It is the kind of project that demands focus, teamwork, and accountability at every step. Leading the program is instructor Troy Hathaway, who brings more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry to SRTC. His background spans residential construction, fine woodworking, timber framing, and more. He joined SRTC in 2000 as a full-time substitute before taking over the full-time position the following fall, and has been shaping skilled tradespeople ever since. "The biggest highlight of our program is the houses that we build and then sell to a member of the community," Troy said. Senior Ashton Feeney, who served as a foreman during the build, describes what the experience has meant to him: "Throughout my two years in the program I have learned a significant amount of applicable skills. Being given the opportunity to be a foreman may be the most valuable thing I learned." Students who complete the program earn an OSHA 10-Hour Construction card, a nationally recognized credential that carries real weight with employers in the field. The program has also proven to be a lasting launching pad for careers in the trades. Many graduates have gone on to become self-employed contractors in the area, with the majority working as residential builders and several others running their own HVAC businesses. The program's impact on the local workforce has built up steadily over the years. The program has deep roots in the local community as well. Area companies have generously supported the house builds over the years, donating their time, services, and materials. That kind of sustained community investment is a testament to the trust and respect the program has earned across the region. The Building Trades program at SRTC is teaching students how to work, how to lead, and how to take pride in something they built with their own hands. Ashton experienced that firsthand. "I saw that it isn't the people who can't do it, it's the environment around them. This class setting is the absolute best opportunity I can imagine for high schoolers like myself."

SRTC Program Highlight: Building Trades

Sanford School Department

May 29, 2026

From pouring a foundation to putting on the finishing touches, students in the Building Trades program at Sanford Regional Technical Center learn every stage of building a home.

The program covers every aspect of residential construction, from framing to finish work. Each group of students works together to complete a full house build, which is then sold to a member of the community, making the work as real as it gets. It is the kind of project that demands focus, teamwork, and accountability at every step.

Leading the program is instructor Troy Hathaway, who brings more than 35 years of experience in the construction industry to SRTC. His background spans residential construction, fine woodworking, timber framing, and more. 

He joined SRTC in 2000 as a full-time substitute before taking over the full-time position the following fall, and has been shaping skilled tradespeople ever since. "The biggest highlight of our program is the houses that we build and then sell to a member of the community," Troy said.

Senior Ashton Feeney, who served as a foreman during the build, describes what the experience has meant to him: "Throughout my two years in the program I have learned a significant amount of applicable skills. Being given the opportunity to be a foreman may be the most valuable thing I learned."

Students who complete the program earn an OSHA 10-Hour Construction card, a nationally recognized credential that carries real weight with employers in the field. The program has also proven to be a lasting launching pad for careers in the trades. 

Many graduates have gone on to become self-employed contractors in the area, with the majority working as residential builders and several others running their own HVAC businesses. The program's impact on the local workforce has built up steadily over the years.

The program has deep roots in the local community as well. Area companies have generously supported the house builds over the years, donating their time, services, and materials. That kind of sustained community investment is a testament to the trust and respect the program has earned across the region.

The Building Trades program at SRTC is teaching students how to work, how to lead, and how to take pride in something they built with their own hands. Ashton experienced that firsthand. "I saw that it isn't the people who can't do it, it's the environment around them. This class setting is the absolute best opportunity I can imagine for high schoolers like myself."