Full circle: Philpot returns to CHS as superintendent of ongoing construction project

As a member of Corbin High School’s Class of 2018, Aaron Philpot was always career-minded. Now he has the unique opportunity to return to his alma mater as a professional in the construction business.

“I was on the bass fishing team through my junior year,” Philpot said. “Then I just focused on my career as a senior.”

“I always stayed busy and had a job,” Philpot said of his life growing up. “I did auto detailing, mowed grass… anything to make a dollar.”

After graduating from high school, Philpot went on to Eastern Kentucky University. Four years later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management.

“I did some internships while in college, and took about a week off after graduation,” Philpot said.

From there, Philpot said that he was able to find work at the Hacker Brothers Construction Company, which is based in London, and he has been working with them ever since.

“I started off as a basic laborer, then I got a chance to be a superintendent at the movie theater,” Philpot explained, referencing the recent renovations at the former Tri-County Cineplex, now known as Cinema Social.

“That was cool, because I actually worked there for about six months when I was 16,” Philpot said of the theater. “I was just making minimum wage, working behind the counter. It goes to show you what can happen if you work hard and put your mind to it.”

Since the overhaul at Cinema Social was completed, Philpot has transitioned to becoming the jobsite superintendent at Corbin High School, where crews are in the process of updating the baseball, softball and tennis facilities.

“It’s nice,” Philpot said of being back on campus. “It makes me feel like all of the work that I’ve done over the past ten years has been worth it.”

Work on the CHS spring sports facilities is slated to be completed sometime in early 2024. When asked what he might say to current student considering going into the trades, Philpot said, “College isn’t always everything. Tradesmen are making $45-50 an hour, and it’s only going up. There are shortages in everything, so the trades are really where it’s at, especially if you want to make money at a young age.”

“A lot of people will go to college for four-or-five years, and then come out and not even use their degree,” Philpot added. “You are guaranteed a job if you get into a trade, and those are skills that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.”