Allen Miller has a plan after he graduates: an apprenticeship in plumbing, pipefitting, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning(HVAC).

The Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center student spoke to a group gathered at 1512 Indiana Ave. in Virginia Beach to celebrate the work he and other seniors had put into building the home for the past two years.

He gave a shoutout to the faculty.

“They keep it real to help us get better at our craft,” he said.

Allen said he didn’t know about the opportunity to study carpentry until Technical and Career Education Center counselor Rob Marlin visited his school when he was in eighth grade.

The hands-on training as part of “The House Students Built” project helped him prepare for the future.

“It’s been a blessing,” he said.

At the celebration, Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. told seniors that construction companies are hiring. The experience building a house  will help them get jobs, he said.

“You have a skill that is desperately needed,” Robertson said.

The barbeque luncheon was a send-off for the more than 60 seniors who helped in the home’s construction. They put their skills to the test in carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing, landscaping, plus HVAC.

Special guests toured the home, slated for completion by the end of the year.

School Board member Mike Callan was in attendance. He worked as a framing carpenter years ago before a career in financial services.

He praised the students’ work for precision, accuracy and attention to detail.

“When you walk in, you say ‘Wow!’ ” he said.

Aiden Delamar helped wire the home for electricity.

“It was definitely beneficial for my career,” he said.

Jordan Crawford worked in masonry on the house’s back patio.

“I always had an interest in building things and seeing how it all comes together,” she said. Her plan is to study business at a college in upstate New York and get an apprenticeship in construction.

Atraiu Stevens plans to join the Marine Corps after graduation.  The carpentry skills learned have been invaluable, he said. “It’s going to help me the rest of my life.”

Carpentry teacher Larry Hinson said students have made community connections.

The goal is to make sure students get employed, enrolled or enlisted.

“Seeing them succeed is really cool, fantastic and rewarding,” he said.

The 2,800 square foot, two story, three bedroom, 2.5 bath home with a two-car garage was also made possible by help from the community through donations of materials and time with an estimated value of $150,000.

Proceeds from the sale of the home will benefit teachers and students through the Virginia Beach Education Foundation.

Since the homebuilding project began in the 1990s, 12 homes have been built, including the one on Indiana Avenue set to be sold later this year. To date, more than $800,000 has been raised to fund teacher grants for innovative classroom projects.

Foundation President Kevin Hill described the collaborative effort between students, teachers and volunteers as “leadership by doing.”

“The training that matters is real-world job applications in the production of this house,” he said.

Tech Center Director David Swanger said giving the students the opportunity to be part of a house construction project prepares them for the future.

“We can take every student in construction and give them a real-world experience,” he said. “It’s amazing.”