Laker Nation News

Lake Land College Building Construction Technology (BCT) students worked on a Charleston home for Coles County Habitat for Humanity this past spring.

Zach Whitley, adjunct faculty for the technology division, arranged the partnership because of his ties to the organization. Whitley has served as a project manager for Habitat for Humanity for eight years.

“These builds get students out of the classroom and out doing something good for the community. We were happy to have the build times switched to midweek, that way our students could participate,” Whitley said.

Lake Land BCT students had a hand in nearly all stages of building. Back in 2017, a BCT student developed blueprints for a class project—that same plan is the one being used for the house in Charleston. Each Habitat for Humanity house has the same layout, with minor design changes depending on the family.

Time ran out on the semester before the students were able to finish the build, though they did complete an entire garden shed for the Habitat home. They also constructed the framing for the house, along with some flooring and foundation work.

The project is slated for completion around September. Habitat for Humanity Coles County is still looking for volunteers to help complete the Charleston house.

For more information about Building Construction Technology, visit lakelandcollege.edu and under the “Academics” drop-down menu, select “High Demand Programs.” For additional

information, contact Building Construction Technology Instructor/Coordinator Neal Haarman at 217-234-5421 or nhaarman@lakelandcollege.edu.