SPARKS, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Hundreds of local trade school students are scrambling for answers and trying to figure out their next steps after the Career College of Northern Nevada in Sparks filed for bankruptcy on Friday and suddenly shuttered permanently.

The for-profit trade college, which offered programs like HVAC and welding, sent a brief email to students on Friday informing them of the immediate closure with no reason cited.

News 4-Fox 11 confirmed through court documents Monday that the school filed for bankruptcy in federal court, leaving students in a lurch.

It's gone. All my hard work is gone.

"I was never even notified, I found out on your news station," said former student Brian Warne. "I contacted teachers, fellow classmates and they had no idea either. Everybody was left in the dark."

Warne, who was 2 months away from finishing a 9-month HVAC program, was at the school on Pullman Drive Monday morning trying to get access to the building. He said he had roughly $1,000 of his own tools left in his locker, but the building was closed and staff haven't responded to emails or phone calls.

News 4-Fox 11 left multiple voicemails and sent multiple emails to CEO Nate Clark, but he didn't respond to our requests for comment. The website has been scrubbed and now sends people to a generic page informing visitors of the immediate closure, effective Feb. 9, 2024.

It also has resources for students looking to get their student loans discharged, get their official student records or get their tuition reimbursed.

Truckee Meadows Community College officials wrote in an email Monday, they are ready to welcome students affected by the CCNN closure. Students looking for information on transferring are encouraged to contact the academic advising office by calling 775-673-7062 or emailing advising@tmcc.edu.

Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on X and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.