A group of local construction professionals is partnering with the new Holton Career and Resource Center to provide materials and mentoring to students in the school's carpentry class.

Members of Durham Careers in Construction, a local nonprofit, hope real-world projects and internship opportunities will motivate students to join a lucrative industry in which a college degree isn't necessary.

Many of Holton's 11 carpentry students said they want to go into construction because, hey, working with power tools sure beats sitting in class.

"I like working with my hands," said Deandre Myers, a sophomore at Southern High School, wearing a white hard hat and highlighter-yellow safety vest.

Myers joined five other young men in carrying large slabs of wood and other donated materials from the delivery truck after the partnership was announced Thursday. They'll be using the materials, worth more than $5,000, to build two storage sheds. One shed will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, and the other will go up for auction.

Durham Careers in Construction started in 1998 as a way to encourage construction careers among students who might have written off the industry before. Its members have funded programs and volunteered in Durham Public Schools before, including at the Career and Design Academy at Southern High School.

"There are more self-made millionaires in construction than in any other field in the world," said Lisa Pineiro, president of Technical Services Inc. and chairwoman of Durham Careers in Construction.

Business leaders said it was especially important to bring more jobs to Northeast Central Durham, a long depressed neighborhood with little economic activity.

"We need to hire employees from this community," said Kirsten Weeks, a Cisco worker chairwoman of the Superintendent's Business Advisory Council. "Business involvement is critical."

Cisco will start a networking certification academy for students at Holton next semester.

The Holton center opened in late August and houses career and technical education courses, a community recreation center and a Duke University-run health clinic. The unique $17 million collaboration aims to bring new economic life to the area.

Enrollment in classes is steadily increasing but still far below the building's capacity. Carpentry instructor Lloyd Dunn, a professional contractor, said they're still recruiting - and in his class, looking for females.

"It's important to have hands-on, practical skills, and that's what I'm getting here," said Jamarr Parker, a junior at Hillside High.

Soon-departing Superintendent Carl Harris said it was important to give students work they could later use in their careers.

"We want to make that seamless connection," he said. "It's really all about them. It's about everything we can do as adults."

After the sheds are built, Dunn said carpentry students will build and frame a corner of a scaled-down house in the classroom next semester.