Sidney High students show off hard work, house project

Sidney High School students have put in months of labor and collaboration to put the finishing touches on remodeling and improving a house located at 1833 Maple St. The students hosted their first open house to the public on Saturday morning.

Beau McConnell, Sidney High's construction teacher as well as Kim Castner, the school's design teacher, have helped their students gain a hands on opportunity dealing with team work, planning, budgeting and construction. The students worked together to make design and decoration decisions for the home.

The new and improved house was filled with potential buyers as well as teachers, students and locals who were interested in seeing the progress and updates to the house. The students in McConnell's and Castner's classes were in charge of giving tours of the house as well as explaining what the house looked like before they made updates.

"I wanted to see the house because my family is growing, and this house has three bedrooms and two baths," said local resident Jennifer Wilson. "Since these kids took this house down to the studs it's brand new, and that's what I like. The whole community part and just that the kids worked on it is awesome."

The students have been completely hands on in installing windows, applying drywall and framing, wiring lights as well as creating storyboards for each room with design elements.

Michael and Lorna Fisher said they recently bought their own home and wanted to see exactly how the students made updates and renovations to the house on Maple Street.

"We really wanted to get an idea of how to set up our own house by seeing what the students have done during this project," Lorna Fisher said.

All of the money raised by this project will be given back to students in the form of scholarships. These scholarships will be awarded to members of the 2015 graduating class. Scholarships will be given to students who have completed more than two semesters in the industrial arts field as well as the general student body at Sidney.

The students will host another open house at 1833 Maple St., on Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.