Just weeks after graduating from Hominy High School, Hunter Jewell was already putting his skills to work in the field. Jewell completed his first year in the HVAC class at Central Tech's Sapulpa campus during his senior year and spent the summer gaining hands-on experience through an internship with Tulsa-based Donohue Commercial Service.

The opportunity came naturally. Jewell's father works for the company, and after an interview and recommendation, he was offered an internship that gave him a firsthand look at the HVAC industry.

From service calls to maintenance work and company meetings, Jewell experienced many aspects of the business. "There's a big Monday meeting in the office every week," Jewell said. "We talk about who was on call, what they did, how they fixed it and whether it solved the problem." Most days were spent in the field responding to service calls or performing preventive maintenance. "We would pick a call and head to it," Jewell said. "Usually, it's on a rooftop with a 10-ton unit or bigger."

Maintenance work often involves servicing large commercial systems. "It entails getting a big filter list and going to a site that has more than 500 filters and changing every single one of them, washing the coils and making sure everything is working properly," he said. Jewell also gained experience with equipment installations. "You may be on a rooftop while they're setting a 20-ton unit in place with a crane," he said.

While his first year in Central Tech's HVAC class focused primarily on heating systems, Jewell said the internship allowed him to expand his skills beyond the classroom and apply what he learned in real-world situations.

Now, Jewell is back at Central Tech as an adult learner to complete his second year in the HVAC class and continue building toward his career goals. His advice for students considering a future in HVAC is simple: stay ready to learn. "It's really important to be open to learning new things because this trade is always changing," Jewell said. "It can be a difficult trade and takes a lot of thinking, but that's where the opportunity is. You have to be willing to keep learning."

Jewell's journey reflects the value of combining classroom instruction with hands-on industry experience. Through training, real-world application, and a commitment to continuous learning, he is building the skills needed for a successful career in a high-demand field. As he returns to Central Tech to complete his training, he is taking the next step toward achieving his goals and preparing for long-term success.