Southern Wayne students to build Habitat house
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 18, 2009 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Southern Wayne High School Construction Academy summer camp students Brandon Davis, left, and John Taylor, center, nail top plates Wednesday while instructor John Gerken, right, takes a measurement during the construction of a storage shed.
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News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Under the watchful eye of Cianci Glaspie, right, an instructor at the Southern Wayne High School Construction Academy, John Taylor, 16, cuts a piece of plywood.
A vocational program begun at Southern Wayne High School this year will build on its efforts in the fall, creating a home for a local family.
The school's construction academy will partner with Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne on the project, expected to take the course of the upcoming school year to complete. Once finished, the house will be moved to a parcel of land located in the school district.
Participating students will be trained to do rough carpentry, as well as install drywall, roofing, windows, countertops, trim, doors and vinyl siding. They will also be provided with opportunities to work with contractors, including electricians and plumbers.
Students are also expected to assist with building the home's foundation and later preparing the site for the move.
"Wayne County Public Schools works to prepare students to be competitive employees in the global markets of the 21st Century," said Dr. Sandra McCullen, Wayne County Public Schools' associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "Southern Wayne High's Construction Academy integrates project-based classes, hands-on experiences, and college courses to teach students the key elements and skills needed to be successful in the construction field."
The partnership with Habitat for Humanity will benefit students by providing work-based opportunities inside as well as outside the classroom, Mrs. McCullen added.
The home will be funded through the Lowe's Foundation, the Mt. Olive Pickle Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. Earlier this year, the Lowe's Foundation awarded $29,000 to the local Habitat chapter to help cover half the costs of building the home. The Mt. Olive Pickle Foundation also donated $5,000 toward the project.
"This project will not only be a great way for participating students to give back to their community, but it will also allow them to receive valuable hands on experience and training," said Lee Gray, development coordinator for Habitat for Humanity.
"Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne looks forward to helping give students the necessary 'tools' to one day enter the construction field as a career, and further strengthen our local workforce pool of skilled laborers," Gray said.
Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne is currently working to identify a family living in southern Wayne County who would be interested in purchasing the home. Some criteria does apply for candidates. For more information, call Habitat at 736-9592.