Freshman Brice Moorhouse Started His Career Plan in High School

Andrea Byerly
Monday, August 21, 2023 12:00 AM
All, Students, Press Releases, Academics

CLEVELAND, TN - Cleveland State Community College freshman, Brice Moorhouse, has a plan for his future, and he started working on that plan at Polk County High School (PCHS). Combining work-based learning experience, industry certifications and classroom education, Moorhouse will major in surveying at Cleveland State and plans to operate his own surveying business.

Moorhouse grew up on a farm and learned to run heavy equipment at a young age. He said, “My papaw watched me when I was young. He taught me how to operate a bunch of equipment. I can run almost anything – backhoe, trackhoe, skid steer.”

When he turned 16 years old, Moorhouse started working at the Ocoee River Maze when not in school. When PCHS offered a work-based learning (WBL) program his senior year, Moorhouse embraced the opportunity. Since he had already taken the required classes needed for graduation, Moorhouse worked full-time during the spring semester of his senior year. He earned four credits in WBL before graduation while working for the Polk County Road Department. He gained experience as he worked with a team to maintain road tiles, patch roads and flag for equipment vehicles.

When PCHS partnered with Cleveland State Workforce Development to provide opportunities for industry certification, Moorhouse took the HVAC Bootcamp in the spring with funding provided by PCHS. After completing the six-week class, he earned his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 608 universal certification.

Driving to Cleveland for the class, Moorhouse was able to continue working for the road department. “The class was another way of getting more education, and I enjoyed it,” said Moorhouse.

“Brice has laid a solid foundation for future students to take advantage of the opportunities available thanks to the administration and staff reimagining what education looks like at Polk County High School,” said Dr. Ryan Goodman, Career Technical Education (CTE) Supervisor for Polk County Schools. “Tennessee is leading the nation in providing opportunities for students, particularly in Career and Technical Education, and we are very appreciative of the funding from Governor Lee and the legislative body. Without it, Brice's journey would not be possible. We are very proud of him and the path he has paved through work-based learning, workforce development training, and his post-secondary aspirations at Cleveland State Community College.”

Through this same program at PCHS, Moorhouse will start Cleveland State with two nationally recognized industry certifications. Along with the EPA certification, he earned the American Welding Society (AWS) certification this past spring after taking welding classes his sophomore and junior years at PCHS.

“Cleveland State Workforce Development Department is working closely with Polk County Schools to offer workforce training programs with industry certifications for high school students,” said Heather Brown, Cleveland State Director of Workforce Development. “This is one more way to provide educational opportunities for our community and grow our workforce.” 

A Tennessee Promise student, Moorhouse was a member of the PCHS National Honor Society, SkillsUSA team and golf team. He received the Polk County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, Farm Bureau Scholarship and the Principal’s Ambassador Scholarship at Cleveland State.

When asked why he chose Cleveland State, Moorhouse said, “Cleveland State is close to home; I’m not too much on moving away. This is home. I’ve always enjoyed working, so I’m excited to be able to work while I go to school. I only have classes two days a week so I can work three days a week.”

Moorhouse plans to work for Maxwell Excavating in Polk County to gain more experience while he attends Cleveland State and pursues his surveying license.

For more information about Workforce Development training opportunities, contact Heather Brown, Director of Workforce Development, hbrown@clevelandstatecc.edu or (423) 614-8793.