Student projects offer work experience

By Robert Cloud

Tech-ed students at Waupaca High School are applying the final touches to three projects.

Students in Rene Lehman’s horticulture class are ready to sell the flowers they have grown in the ag department’s greenhouse.

After nearly three years of work, Bill Kroseburg’s auto tech students have nearly completed rebuilding a 1967 Chevy Camaro RS.

Students in Dave Larson’s construction class should have the Comet House ready for market by this summer.

According to Jen Erb, Waupaca High School’s career and technical education coordinator, the hands-on training programs would not be possible without financial support and expertise from area businesses.

Kroseberg said Neuville Motors has played a major role in supporting the project.

The class has also been assisted by Dave Stencil, a body work specialist, and this year’s teaching assistant, Dave Miller.

Kroseburg said students in the class not only learn basics about automotive technology, they learn “attention to detail, patience, problem solving and critical thinking.”

Eight students have worked on the car this semester.

Over the last three years, nearly 70 students have participated in the project.

This semester, Larson has been teaching a total of 17 students who are building a 1,408-square-foot home across King Road from the high school.

When finished, the single-story house will have three bedrooms, two baths, a basement, deck and two-car garage.

“We’ve had a very close relationship with Blenker Construction in Amherst,” Larson said. “They bought the lot, paid for almost all the materials, and when we’re finished, they’re going to buy out whatever the school has invested in it, sell it and split the profits with the school.”

Larson said Blenker’s participation has saved the district thousands of dollars on the project.

Larson said experienced contractors would get the students started on the sheeting or siding, then return to ensure they were doing the work correctly.

Students in the class are receiving valuable training and work experience in construction.

“Any one of these guys can find a job within a month,” Larson said. “There is a huge shortage of good people in construction right now.”

The greenhouse at Waupaca High School is a sea of bright colors as the flowers are blooming.

Students in Lehman’s horticulture and greenhouse management class have raised the plants and will soon sell flats and baskets to raise money for the ag department.

The plant sale is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 10, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 11.

Those who are interested in buying plants from Waupaca High School should enter the greenhouse through its main door.