http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/rvtc-carpentry-program-sells-home-built-students
RVTC Carpentry Program Sells Home Built by Students
Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 12/18/2012
SPRINGFIELD, VT -High School students enrolled in the Carpentry program at the River Valley Technical Center began building a house back in May 2011. They started with a materials list, then a cut list, then an organizational plan and work plan. Carpentry Instructor, Erin Hunter, has been teaching Carpentry and overseeing the hands-on project in an educational setting. She said that it gives her students something tangible in their education.
“They had to organize themselves, plan for every section of the house, and work together to get it completed,” said Hunter, who has helped students build and sell nine houses in her ten years as the Carpentry Instructor at RVTC.
Hunter said the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene set the group back last fall when the house was started. The Center wanted to find a buyer who had lost their home in the storm and offer it for sale to them first, but after running into a few road blocks, the house went out for bid to the general public.
Thomas Grace of Proctor, Vermont placed the winning bid on the home. His bid was just one dollar over the minimum bid, but Grace also made a generous donation to the River Valley Technical Center’s Enterprise fund which will create seed money for their next home building project, scheduled to begin this month.
Hunter said that the entire process was a learning opportunity for the kids. “We hired licensed electricians and plumbers who came in and helped students install all the electrical and plumbing. It was great for students to learn from industry professionals about how that part of the home building process works,” she said.
Grace asked if the students could complete some additional finishing work, such as insulation and drywall, which they did this fall. The house left the River Valley Technical Center and is set in Proctor on Grace’s propertyiv
The River Valley Technical Center is definitely a shining star in our region. My company has hired several kids from the RVTC over the past couple of years. We've been VERY happy with the students' combination of technical skills and general employability skills every time.
ReplyDeleteand their nieve willingness to be under-paid and not paid
Deleteinternship anyone ?
RE: "We've been VERY happy with the students' combination of technical skills and general employability skills every time."
ReplyDeleteOdd, my observation over the past several years has been exactly the opposite. Have discovered the Howard Dean Tech CTR as primarily a dumping ground for misfits. Generally used as a deferment to drop-out for students unwilling to engage in more academic studies. Hence, there are no manufacturing or auto tech programs offering trade certification. Two of the currently highest demand and well paid employment fields.
Curious, in the past year how many employers were invited to interview students, and how many were placed in their field of study? (Facts please.) I'd be surprised to learn if any student from the Audio/Video Production program has ever held a paid position in that field upon graduation. But hey, it's essentially job program for teachers anyhow.
its the new way. why would they teach you a marketable trade? a way for you to earn a living after high school. wait we are a college prep school now. why would we give you skills for free. buy your place and if you cant to bad.
ReplyDeleteThank you RVTC for being a drop of white paint in a bucket of incredibly black paint called Springfield.
ReplyDelete