Student project enhances Habitat home
HUDSON—New Lebanon High School students James Avallon,
William Brutsch, Tim Chaudoin and Alex Edwards worked on the project in the
school’s Technology Lab for over 10 weeks. Under the direction of teacher Rick
Jason, the four students have built an 8’-by-10’ storage shed that is now in
place at the Habitat for Humanity home of Larry and Lakia Walker on Mill Street
in Hudson.
They built the shed in seven sections so that it could be
easily transported and assembled at the Mill Street home.
The idea originated with Rick Jason, a regular volunteer
for Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Jason knew how little storage
space there was at the Mill Street home, and he thought that the project would
be an excellent learning opportunity for his students.
After receiving approval from the school board and the
Habitat for Humanity board, Mr. Jason set to work.
According to a press release from the local chapter of
Habitat, James felt that in the process of building this shed he learned enough
to work with a few friends to build a shed himself without having to pay for
someone else to do it. Alex said he felt good about working on a task that would
end up helping another family.
William enjoyed the project, and said that it gave him a
feeling of accomplishment.
The students began by building the forms for the concrete
pads that serve as foundation. The next step was pouring the concrete. Over the
fall semester, the students built the flooring, walls and roof. Homeowner Larry
Walker worked with Mr. Jason to set the concrete pads in place and helped to
ready the site so that on April 2, the students could erect the storage shed in
the back yard.
Mr. Jason said that there was a great deal that the
students learned though the process: teamwork, masonry and construction skills
as well as a sense of self-sufficiency.
Columbia County Habitat Board President Diana Coughlin
congratulated the students on their well-built construction.
Construction of the next Columbia County Habitat for Humanity home will start in
May. For more information, call 518-392-9286.
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