Thursday evening in the cafeteria at Wawasee High School, the building trades students were recognized during the annual banquet. Building trades is a hands-on learning experience for juniors and seniors who are given the opportunity to help build a house from the foundation up.

After the welcome by Curt Hursey, president of the building trades advisory committee, and introductions by Ed Waltz, building trades instructor, the invocation was given by Steve Perek, dean of students at WHS.

A meal was provided by Dan’s Pies with the assistance of culinary arts students of the high school. Waltz recognized the advisory committee members present at the banquet including Hursey; Kim Nguyen, career and technical director for Wawasee; Pam Unruh, career and technical secretary; Dr. Tom Edington, Wawasee superintendent; Heather Garcia; Don Harman, WHS principal; Bruce and Leslie Jackson, parent representatives on the committee; Jamie McAdams, WHS teacher; Barry Miller and Perek.

Building trades students were then recognized and Waltz gave brief remarks about each student. Those completing two years in the program are Charles Bird, Luke Jackson, Trenton Thornburg, Allen Carson and Henry Kidd. Allen Carson was named outstanding senior.

First year students are Jamison Bolt, Roberto DeLaFuente, Rodrigo Hernandez, Brandin McCulloch, Andria Millberg, Brandon Tomlinson, Ryndan Aaron, Derek Charles, Terrance Farmer, Samuel Jackson and Patrick Navarro.

DeLaFuente, Millberg, Tomlinson, Aaron, Samuel Jackson, Luke Jackson, Bird, Thornburg, Carson and Kidd are seniors and the rest are juniors.

During his closing remarks, Hursey noted some students enter the program “who have never even picked up a hammer,” but by the end of the year they have a good idea of what needs to be done to build a house. This year’s project house is for Denny and Susie Replogle on East LaPoint Drive at Camelot Lake.

The time and date for the open house will be announced later.