Students Build A Home For A Single Mother

Julia Posey

June 28, 2010

schedule 2 min read
Val Hale, VP of Community Relations and Habitat Board member, Chris Lomeau, VP of UVUSA, Alexis Palmer, Director of Volunteer and Service-Learning Center, Stella Walsh, Family Mentor, DeWayne Erdmann, Building Construction Professor and Cory Duckworth, VP of Student Affairs join in celebration with the Terry family and welcome them to their new home during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Utah County. Kena Mathews / UVU Review

Val Hale, VP of Community Relations and Habitat Board member, Chris Lomeau, VP of UVUSA, Alexis Palmer, Director of Volunteer and Service-Learning Center, Stella Walsh, Family Mentor, DeWayne Erdmann, Building Construction Professor and Cory Duckworth, VP of Student Affairs join in celebration with the Terry family and welcome them to their new home during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Utah County. Kena Mathews / UVU Review

On Monday, June 14, the construction management students and Habitat for Humanity commemorated their second completed home during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Utah County.

“This is our second successful UVU Habitat for Humanity house, and it’s a testament to UVU’s community and engagement,” said Alexis Palmer, Director of the Volunteer and Service Learning Center. “Students building the house are a perfect example of engaged learning at UVU.”

This home was built for the Terry Family, a single mother with two young sons, a 2 year-old daughter and her elderly mother. Two rooms for both boys were adopted by the UV Mentors. The Academic Tutoring Center also donated a lawnmower, gardening gloves, shovels and more. Several members of the UVU community had the opportunity to get involved with the decoration of rooms throughout the home. In addition, President Holland’s office adopted the two year-old girl’s room, provided funds for a bedding set and more.

“Total cost to build without land was $101, 000,” said Kena Mathews, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Utah County. “UVU provided a good portion of the labor to build the home and provided $1,900 towards building material costs.”

Construction began in September, and the students from the department of construction management spent the academic school year completing the home under the direction of DeWayne Erdmann. In addition to receiving the rewards for building a home for a local family, students also earned academic credit.

“So many people came together to accomplish this great thing for this family,” said Palmer. “We hope to be able to do this every two years.”

For more information on Habitat for Humanity, visit www.HabitatUC.org