NJ students: Carpentry students build playhouse for local veteran family
Students in the Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) carpentry program recently completed a project for Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity, which consisted of building a playhouse for a local veteran family.
Earlier this school year, SCVTHS Supervisor of Career and Technical Education Rob Carrig contacted Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity about exploring opportunities to work together. After some discussion and a tour of the SCVTHS career and technical education programs, Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity explained that they had a program that assists local veteran families. During the discussions, it was mentioned a local veteran family was looking to have a playhouse built. Carrig jumped on the opportunity and volunteered the SCVTHS carpentry program with the task.
“Under the guidance of Mr. Foley, the construction of the playhouse was a student-led project where they were able to work off a set of prints and construct everything from start to finish,” said Carrig, who is SCVTHS supervisor of Career and Technical Education. “The students learned key concepts that will help them in their careers including: how to work in teams, interpreting prints, and estimating materials. The students had a great time building the house and we are hoping to have many more projects in the near future.”
Also: Zachary Hoyer of Raritan, a sophomore in the carpentry program, has been selected as Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School’s (SCVTHS) Student of the Month for April 2022.
SCVTHS English Instructor Brendan Downey nominated Hoyer for the Student of the Month award said, “Zach is always respectful of teachers and peers. He participates regularly in class discussions and is eager to be involved in class projects.” Instructor Kristen McNerney said, “Zack is a wonderful addition to any classroom discussion. He is a conscientious worker who stays on top of his work and helps out fellow classmates if the need/opportunity arises. You can always count on Zack to bring quality to discussions and a smile to the room.”
Outside of SCVTHS, Hoyer is very involved with BR Skateboarding. Hoyer volunteers to build the park and take it down after lessons, as well as serving as a skateboard instructor. Additionally, Hoyer works as a summer camp counselor at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Bridgewater during the summer months. In his free time, Hoyer enjoys fishing, skating, hanging out with his friends, and snowboarding in the winter.
After graduating from SCVTHS, Hoyer plans to attend college to earn a degree in business. He then hopes to start his own carpentry business in Tennessee.
READ: The good things students are doing in Central Jersey and beyond
READ: Education news from around the region
READ: College Connection: Advice from local expert columnist
Kenilworth Public Schools
Teachers and education support professionals who not only excel at their job, but also take extra measures to ensure staff, students and their families feel welcome, is what makes a school a community.
Kenilworth School District recognized some of these devoted individuals at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 11.
“These educators have achieved synergy between their own teaching visions and the visions for teaching that are thrust upon them by others,” Kyle Arlington, superintendent of schools, said at the meeting. “Their beliefs align with their practices, and they have a strong and lasting impact on the children and young people of Kenilworth.”
The honorees include:
Kristine Parente: A kindergarten teacher with the district for 17 years, Parente received recognition as Harding Elementary School’s Teacher of Excellence. “I get to be surrounded with love every day,” says Parente on why she enjoys being a teacher. “I get to inspire kids as much as they inspire me.”
Jamie Rifkowitz: Rifkowitz took on the role of Kenilworth’s District Technology Facilitator in the fall of 2020, and is devoted to helping staff, students, and parents with all their technology concerns and interests. She was named Harding Elementary School's Educational Service Professional of the Year for her hard work and dedication.
Jill Minarik: This is Minarik’s eighth year teaching English at Brearley High School. She is an advisor for the “Bears That Care” program and spends numerous hours arranging donations for community members in need. She received Teacher of Excellence recognition from Brearley High School. “My wish for every student I have is to live boldly,” she says. “To find their joy and hold on to it.”
Lorrae Schau: Schau has been with Brearley Middle-High School since 1990. She is a Special Education Teacher and currently teaches eighth, 10th, and 12th grade. Schau was named Teacher of Excellence at Brearley Middle School. “Witnessing students as they flourish on multiple levels is my favorite part about being a teacher.”
Jaime Lugo: Brearley’s Educational Service Professional of the Year honor belongs to Guidance Counselor Jaime Lugo, who has been with the district for eight years. Students describe him as kind, sympathetic and sincere, and Principal Jeremy Davies says Lugo listens without judgment and advises with positivity.
Raritan Valley Community College
Transformed by an unprecedented $50,000 “match challenge,” Raritan Valley Community College had a record-setting “Giving Day” on Thursday, March 24, and raised $135,716 for student clubs and athletic teams, as well as a range of critical institutional programs. Last year, RVCC Giving Day raised $51,510, and in 2020, the event raised $23,635.
RVCC Giving Day 2022 also set new records for most gifts received, highest number of $1,000-plus gifts, and total dollars raised by students. The 24-hour, online fundraising event also experienced record levels of participation by faculty and staff, the college’s Board of Trustees and the RVCC Foundation’s Board of Directors. In total, 494 donors from the college and larger community supported RVCC Giving Day 2022, an increase of 200% over 2021.
“Wow! We’re so proud to be part of this great success,” said Frank Russo, who, along with his wife, Patricia, were the benefactors behind the “Match Challenge.” “We knew the College was more than worthy, and it’s gratifying to see the community respond so generously,” Patricia Russo said. The longtime Far Hills residents also support the Frank S. and Patricia F. Russo Scholarship at RVCC, which is now in its fourth year.
“We are simply floored by this epic generosity from the Russos,” said Michael J. McDonough, president, Raritan Valley Community College. “We could not be more honored or more grateful for their support.”
Stacey Kimmins, chair of the RVCC Foundation Board of Directors, said, “The phenomenal success of this year’s Giving Day is directly attributable to the Russos; their gift was the catalyst for so many new Giving Day milestones, including our record fundraising total.”
In addition to some 22 student clubs and athletic teams, this year’s RVCC Giving Day campaign featured nine areas of interest for donors, including the Resource Center and Food Pantry, the Servicing Learning Program, Honors College, and Workforce Training Center, as well as direct support of students through the new Paul Robeson and Evelyn S. Field scholarships, and the Emerging Heroes Nursing Scholarships, which netted $6,350.
In total, RVCC students raised $21,945 on Giving Day, a 272% increase over last year. This year’s winners of the “Patrick J. Fittipaldi Impact Award” — which celebrates student success in support of RVCC Giving Day — went to the RVCC men’s basketball team for most dollars raised ($5,850) and the Black Student Alliance and Rotaract clubs for attracting the most donors (each with 44). All three will receive $1,000 awards for their efforts.
“Thanks to the leadership of Frank and Pat Russo, we’ve reached heights that were previously unimaginable for Giving Day,” said Mike Marion, executive director of the RVCC Foundation. “The word ‘transformational’ gets tossed around a lot, but there isn’t a more apt way to describe the generosity of the Russos.”
The RVCC Foundation is the fundraising arm of Raritan Valley Community College. It provides the resources that enable the college to enhance its programs beyond public and tuition sources and to maintain its standing as a premier academic institution and one of the most important sources of culture and continuing education in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
For additional information about ways to support the college and the work of the RVCC Foundation, contact Mike Marion at 908-648-8567 or michael.marion@raritanval.edu, or visit rvccfoundation.org.
Student and School news appears on Saturdays. Email: cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com
Carolyn Sampson is Executive Office Assistant for the Courier News, The Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com, and handles the weekly Student News page.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ students: Carpentry students build playhouse for veteran family
