Pe Ell students involved in the SkillsUSA club figure the logistics out on a wheelchair ramp they helped construct at the local residence in town.
Students work to put together a wheelchair ramp for a resident in Pe Ell.
Members of a new club at Pe Ell High School, SkillsUSA, put the final touches on one of the wheelchair ramps they helped construct.
Members of the SkillsUSA club help make a set of stairs at a local home in Pe Ell.
Students involved in the SkillsUSA club at Pe Ell High School stand with some of the project overseers during the second community project which took place on Saturday.
Students involved in the SkillsUSA club at Pe Ell High School stand with some of the project overseers during the second community project which took place on Saturday.
Members of a new club at Pe Ell High School utilized their weekend to help a community member in need.
SkillsUSA, a national club that aims to empower its members to become leaders, workers and responsible citizens, opened a local chapter at the high school. The club of high school students joined with the Greater Lewis County Habitat for Humanity to help build a wheelchair ramp for a community member.
Doug Peterson, construction manager for the local branch of Habitat for Humanity, said students helped build the ramp and also rebuilt two sets of stairs and replaced a section of a rotted porch.
This was the second community project; the first one also created a wheelchair ramp.
Phil Kepler, vocational instructor at the school, said the club started as a means to provide students with more community involvement projects.
The projects help prepare the club for the state competition, which will take place in approximately a month and a half in Tacoma. The group of seven students is working to put together a presentation to give at the competition, showcasing the projects they completed while showing what they learned throughout.
“They are giving back to their community and I think that’s the biggest lesson (the students) are learning,” Kepler said.
Freshman Noah McAllister said he initially joined the club because he enjoys helping people. He said the experience was rewarding and said he learned a lot from the projects.
“Our goal was to get the project done in one day, and that was achieved with both projects,” he said. “The reaction from the people was the best part for me.”
Another student involved in the project, sophomore James Herrera, said the community project gave him an opportunity to give back to an old neighbor, something that felt good.
He plans to continue with the club in future years and is excited for what’s to come.
“The most valuable lesson probably was just being able to help out with friends, and helping out the community was really nice,” Herrera said.
Peterson and Kepler both helped guide the kids on the work that needed to be done, helping to provide manpower and materials.
Greater Lewis County Habitat for Humanity was pleased to partner with the student club and plans to continue with projects in the future.
“The students are getting an exposure to helping out in the community and, secondly, it exposes them to a little bit of construction work in projects that they may not have an opportunity to do at home,” Peterson said. “If they stick around long enough, they can see projects from beginning to end, and that might inspire them to do something like that on their own.”
Keplar agreed, noting the students are learning valuable skills while giving back to those in need.
“The most valuable lesson I think they’re getting is people out in their community need help,” he said. “They’re providing them with that.”
