BUILDING TO LEARN

Community college students begin work on third Habitat home

By Elizabeth Pannell

LITTLE ROCK — Fifty-seven-year-old Bill Davidson “likes to work with wood, but never really knew how.” He started the residential carpentry program at National Park Community College in Hot Springs to learn.

Now, with one class under his belt, he is getting on-the-job experience by building a home for the Garland County Habitat for Humanity.

Residential carpentry teacher Paul Scrivner came through the program14 years ago, and a few years after completion his former teacher retired and asked him to take it over.

“I really didn’t have any experience teaching,” Scrivner said. “But I sat in on a few of his classes and decided I would do it.”

Scrivner started his new job in 2003 after working for local contractors. The first two years he was at National Park the floor-and-wall class built homes on campus.

“After we built the home on campus we had to move it,” Scrivner said. “So that was an extra $5,000 that had to be added to the price of the home. It just wasn’t very convenient. ”

Scrivner said a member of the residential advisory board suggested the class contact Habitat for Humanity. The class has started work on the third house, and class members like Davidson get a chance to cut rafters, lay out walls, build stairs and cabinets.

Scrivner said the class meets twice a week for four hours and 20 minutes. The first couple of weeks the class met to discuss the blueprint and the schedule of the job. Now the group of 18 meets at the job site and begins the day’s work.

He said the class contains beginners, like Davidson, and more experienced students like 19-year-old Luke Jack.

“I have worked construction with my dad since I was 12,” Jack said. “Everything we have done in class I pretty well already knew, but there has been a few things I have learned.”

Jack said he “looks forward to going to class; it’s not something I dread.”

Class grades are based on participation, not skill.

“We are here to train the students, not see how fast they can build a house,” Scrivner said.

This home is part of the 15-acre Shaw Habitat Village in Hot Springs. The village will have 15 -17 homes. Scrivner said there are 80-85 Habitat homes in Garland County.

Scrivner said all Habitat homes have the same basic floor plan of three bedrooms and one bathroom.

“All the homes are basically the same, around 1,050 squarefeet,” Scrivner said.

“They vary some with the floor plan and siding color, just so they don’t all look exactly the same.”

Woodmen of the World donated the $45,000 that it costs the build the three homes, which includes hiring profesfinished in a short amount of time,” Scrivner said.

The residential carpentry program prepares students for entry-level positions in the carpentry field.

After completion of the program students will be prepared for employment in general carpentry or construction management.

Scrivner said other classes students in the course take include blueprint reading, roofing, cabinet making and computer technology.

Some st udent s work ing on the Habitat home are not preparing for a career in carpentry, but rather for personal enrichment.

Sean W hite, 21, said his work in construction was a “first-time experience.”

“I have learned a lot from other students and Mr. Scrivner as well,” White said.

“He is extremely knowledgeable, and he doesn’t talk about something if he doesn’t know anything about it.”

Davidson said he has had a “great” experience and plans to finish the program.

“It’s nice that we get this hands-on experience, and we are doing something for the community at the same time,” Davidson said.

“Now I hope to finish the residential carpentry program, because I have had such a great experience.”sional to complete the plumbing, electricity, dry wall, roof, carpet and foundation.

Those interested in a Habitat home are not “ just given” a home, Scrivner said.

“They have to complete an application and work 200 hours of sweat equity,” Scrivner said. “Sweat equity is when the homeowner either works on their home or another Habitat home for at least 200 hours. They also have to make a $200 a month house payment.”

The class will work on the house for the remainder of the fall semester, begin work again in January and finish in May. Scrivner said a typical Habitat house takes four or five months to complete.

“Habitat knows we are using this as a learning experience, so they don’t expect us to be

Tri-Lakes, Pages 127, 134 on 10/12/2008