Hard Hats, Soft Skills: How Aaron Frumin’s unCommon Construction Prepares Students for College and Career Success

In a world where students are often boxed into traditional academic pathways, unCommon Construction is breaking the mold. Led by founder Aaron Frumin, this nonprofit apprenticeship program empowers high school students to build real homes while developing the soft skills essential for career and college success. Welcome to an education model where construction meets character development.

From Classrooms to Construction Sites

At unCommon Construction, students trade desks for hard hats. During a semester-long program, students from diverse high schools come together to build homes from the ground up. In return, they earn hourly wages, school credit, and scholarships.

"We really hang our hard hat, so to speak, on the development and demonstration of soft skills," says Aaron. These include teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and professionalism.

In addition to hands-on training, students participate in Framing Character, an after-school professional development series. From scavenger hunts at hardware stores to collaborative design sessions with architects, these experiences solidify the link between classroom concepts and real-world application.

A Nontraditional Path With Proven Results

Aaron’s journey from college dropout to construction worker, disaster relief volunteer, and Teach For America educator paved the way for unCommon’s founding. His model isn’t just about vocational skills—it’s about building a bridge from education to employment that’s equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.

unCommon Construction has served over 500 youth apprentices, providing more than $500,000 in pay and scholarships. The program’s alumni include students like:

• Hunter, a founding apprentice who used his earnings to join the electrical union, bought a house at 20, and is now working nationwide as a journeyman electrician.
• J’adore, a valedictorian who gained confidence and leadership skills through the program and earned a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Art.

"This is something I can definitely do and keep in my back pocket for the rest of my life," said Hunter.

unCommon Construction’s Unique Apprenticeship Model

• Earn-While-You-Learn: Students are paid for their work—breaking down the financial barriers that often exclude low-income youth from quality opportunities.
• Project-Based Learning: Students gain skills in residential construction, architecture, and design through real-world builds.
• Soft Skill Development: Focus on employability skills crucial for long-term success in any industry.
• Equity in Action: This model works for all students, especially those traditionally left out of college and career pathways.

Next Steps: The unCommon Campus

Aaron and his team are now building a 5,000 sq. ft. community hub in New Orleans. The unCommon Campus will serve as a workshop, training center, and innovation lab for expanding to new cities like Minneapolis.

"The campus will be our symbolic and operational headquarters," says Aaron. It will host programs for high schoolers and adult learners, making it a multipurpose space designed for scaling educational equity.

If awarded $50,000 through Pitch Playground, Aaron plans to use the funds to accelerate development of this center and bring transformational, career-connected learning to more youth across the country.

Why It Matters: Rethinking College and Career Readiness

In a time when career-connected learning and work-based learning are gaining traction, unCommon Construction offers a blueprint for success. It delivers measurable outcomes and meaningful engagement for students while generating real economic value through home sales.

"Apprenticeships are one of the few things everyone agrees on," says education consultant Spencer Sherman. "unCommon is doing it right."

Final Thoughts

From building houses to building futures, unCommon Construction is proving that hands-on learning and soft skills development aren’t just add-ons—they’re essential.

🎧 Listen to Aaron’s full story on the latest episode of Pitch Playground and learn how a hammer, some nails, and a whole lot of purpose are changing lives, one house at a time.

‍