Workforce Continuing Education
Carpentry Students Donate Storage Shed to Habitat for Humanity
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 26, 2020) – Students in Wake Tech’s carpentry class learned the meaning of community service in addition to framing and building.
On Wednesday, the college donated a storage shed carefully constructed by students in the Workforce Continuing Education carpentry class to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. The four-month course included work-based learning that allowed the 10 students in the class the opportunity to apply what they mastered in the classroom on an actual construction project.
Originally, the class was going to work on an actual Habitat house, but because of the pandemic, the students constructed a shed instead. Even though the scope of the project changed, students still got hands-on experience with common residential layout and framing, and learned how to construct floor systems, walls and ceilings, install windows and exterior doors, sheathing on walls and roofs, and house wrap.
Student John Coleman said he is thankful the college continued the class during the pandemic.
“Mr. Chuck Haskett is a wonderful instructor and has been able to help a novice like me gain enough confidence and proficiency to start a project of my own,” Coleman said. “What makes the course even better is knowing that our class project will go to people in need through Habitat for Humanity.”
The shed will be donated to the Habitat ReStore at 2420 N. Raleigh Blvd. in Raleigh. Funds from all ReStore proceeds go to support Habitat’s mission to build affordable homes.
“We are so thrilled to be here today to see the hard work of these Wake Tech students, and the fact that this storage shed is going to go and help affordable housing in our area is wonderful,” said Sean Maroney, interim director of resource development at Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. “It’s great to have this partnership started, and I’m really excited to see what the future will bring.”
Habitat Wake has built more than 800 new, affordable homes in Wake and Johnston counties since 1985 by partnering with sponsors, volunteers and local families. Qualified homebuyers invest 200 hours of sweat equity on the build site and purchase their home with an affordable mortgage. This year, Habitat Wake will build 50 new homes.
Carpentry is just one of many short-term courses offered at Wake Tech that can help individuals develop academic, technical, and employability knowledge. Students who complete the carpentry course also earn an industry-recognized credential from the Home Builder Institute and are issued an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) card.
Learn more about Wake Tech’s Workforce Continuing Education course offerings that help upgrade workforce skills, and prepare students for industry-recognized credentials, certifications, and licenses here.
