Tri Star students step up

CELINA - Tri Star Career Compact construction students have been using their newly acquired skills to build three "you are here" stations for the Mercer County Fairgrounds.

The 15 juniors from nine area school districts have put rivalries aside and are working together to give back to the community, teacher Brett McGillvary said.

Some students came into the two-year program not knowing how to read a tape measure, he said, joking. During the first year, students are introduced to fundamentals of carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring and masonry.

St. Henry student Jack Kiser while working on the project at the fairgrounds on Tuesday morning said he at first was unsure if he would like the class but wanted to try a possible hands-on career.

"I learned a lot and got more and more comfortable in class and liked it more," he added.

Using a picture of the fairgrounds as a reference, the students recently began measuring, cutting and constructing the three mobile stations, which come complete with benches and maps for reference.

Mercer County Fair Manager Cara Muhlenkamp said the kiosks will help familiarize visitors with the grounds and point them in the right direction. She thanked the students for their hard work.

"(We're) excited to work with Tri Star. Nothing better than to work with the community," she said. "Tri Star does a wonderful job on preparing these kids for the rest of their lives."

This experience will prepare them for their big senior project, for which they will build a house from the ground up in just nine months to sell at auction, McGillvary said.

Coldwater student Caleb Spencer has already helped build a couple of houses and looks forward to the challenge again.

"After you finish a house, it's always nice to drive by and say you built that," he said.

Spencer said he first considered pursuing an engineering degree after high school but has since opted instead to pursue construction to be able to work outdoors and more with his hands.

The construction industry has a large need for workers, Tri Star Director Tim Buschur said. McGillvary added that local company officials call him to ask if students are interested in construction careers to fill vacant positions.

Enrollment in the program will increase to 22 students next school year, when classes will be held at the school's new facility being built on State Route 703 across from Wright State University-Lake Campus, Buschur noted.