D211 Building Construction students get generous boost as house takes shape
An under-construction home stands tall at the end of a long cul-de-sac at 115 Gloria Drive in Elgin. It may look like any ordinary house being built in the neighborhood – but it isn’t.
This one is created from the ground up by high school students.
The students, part of High School District 211’s successful Business Construction program, get hands-on experience working alongside teachers and experts in the field, and typically complete one house over two years. Often, they work off designs created by an architecture classmate.
“District 211 has great applied technology classes that allow you to get experience and prepare you for any industry,” said Hoffman Estates senior A.J. Cannestra, who earned a scholarship for an apprenticeship program and will continue in trade school. “This class gets you outside instead of sitting at a desk. You can use these skills in the future, even if you don’t end up working in a trade.”
Students in the program spent part of a recent school day taking an up-close look at their overall progress before being presented with construction-appropriate jackets and gloves donated by the RHBA/RCEC/Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council. They’ll be used while working on this home and on future projects.
A member from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council shared information on careers and opportunities for those in the program and answered questions from the students – all eager to learn even more.
The coat donation program started about seven years ago, and has grown over the years, with students at times going on to work for some of the Union contractors. The boost from community members, those involved agreed, gives students the tools they need to get started.
“We are so grateful for our long-standing community partnerships and their support for our students and programming,” said Michele Napier, District 211 Director of College and Career Readiness. “This is where the rubber meets the road - industry mentoring our students, offering a strong pathway as students plan their future.”
The home in Elgin will be completed at the end of this school year.
The students, who are onsite for two class periods until the home’s completion, can earn up to six college credit hours over two years through a partnership with Triton college.
“The best part of this class is introducing students to all aspects of building, from framing to electric to dry wall,” said Hoffman Estates Building Construction teacher Todd Stennett, whose father founded the District’s work trade program. “This course prepares them for graduation and their future. We try to teach them the ethics of working hard and taking care of each other.”