WCTC helps put on this year's RIBA Home Show

By Brandon Maxwell
Posted 4/6/17

By BRANDON MAXWELL For the second year in a row, students from Warwick's Career and Tech Center were able to contribute with building projects at the 67th annual Rhode Island Builders Association Home Show this weekend. Despite this year being a busier

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WCTC helps put on this year's RIBA Home Show

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For the second year in a row, students from Warwick’s Career and Tech Center were able to contribute with building projects at the 67th annual Rhode Island Builders Association Home Show this weekend.

Despite this year being a busier one than last, construction teacher Ryan Vadeboncoeur and carpentry instructor Mike Haynes were able to bring their students from Pilgrim, Toll Gate, West Warwick and East Greenwich high schools to the Providence Convention Center to help build and take down the sets for this year’s showcase. Prior to the event, the students were mainly working on vinyl siding, interior finish work and installing windows on greenhouses for the show, which began last Thursday and ended on Sunday. They also helped build a tree house at last year’s affair.

“It’s pretty cool to see the project from start to finish,” 17-year-old Andrew Fredericks said. “People are coming to view it and it’s a pretty important event. A lot of businesses get business from it. It’s pretty cool to meet people in the industry. I’m most excited about being able to help finish this so everyone can enjoy it.”

“It was really different, but it was also really fun,” William Martino, 16, said.

“It’s a lot of fun,” 15-year-old Courtney Trenn said. “It’s very fast paced, but it’s a great experience and a great trade to have.” She said she plans on building her career out of everything she is learning.

One of the most important factors both Vadeboncoeur and Haynes said they wanted out of this experience was for their students to enjoy themselves while they got the opportunity to work with about 200 other students from all over the state of Rhode Island. The home show serves as a good time for students to network at an early age, make friends and learn a diverse skill set from all of the different instructors and workers in attendance, all while working on a community project.

“It’s great,” Vadeboncoeur said. “Everyone got together and it’s a great opportunity for them because they are seeing other instructors that are working in the real world. You get to put something together and have everyone come together under one project, which I think is great.”

Paying it forward was always in the making for Vadeboncoeur. He attended and graduated from the same classes that he now teaches. After working with his grandfather and father for his entire career, Vadeboncoeur went back to school when he was 30 so he could pursue his degree in teaching.

While a college education is important, the value of a trade is also essential. He said teaching is the most rewarding thing that he has ever done in his life because he knows what it is likes to be where his students are now, and it is special for him to provide guidance, as well as the tools they need to succeed.

“Whether it is teaching them how to build a house or doing vinyl siding on a job, they get to see the end result,” he said. “They have smiles ear-to-ear. The kids all want to be here and they put that extra effort in. It’s just them when we’re on a job site, but being able to work with other kids their age from different schools is nice.”

Students at the Warwick Career and Tech Center are also in the process of building two houses. The workload has them busy, but Vadeboncoeur and Haynes wouldn’t have it any other way. They said Warwick is fortunate because some schools don’t even get the time or luxury of building any houses.

“It’s all about seeing the kids apply what they’re learning,” Haynes said. “We’re lucky enough to see it every day because we’re out building houses, but I’m happy that my kids get to see students from other schools. What I hope my students take away from this is collaboration, patience, working with others and having a good attitude in whatever they do.”

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