Students build dream playhouse for charity

This past month the Parkland student chapter of the National Home Builders Association (HBA) held a playhouse raffle at this year's Showcase of Homes in the new Fieldstone subdivision in Savoy. The raffle raised over $1,870 that will go towards Parkland student scholarships and to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The raffle was held Sunday, July 27 at 6pm, in the new Fieldstone subdivision in Savoy, Illinois. It took place at the Eastern Illinois National Association of Home Builder's Showcase of Homes, which was held from July 18 through the July 27, with over 8,500 people in attendance for the ten day event. The Showcase of Homes was designed to show model homes of local builders in the association. These homes featured the latest and greatest in home appliances, energy saving products, construction materials, and residential technologies, including fully furnished home theater systems. While touring the homes, visitors had the opportunity to enter the Parkland playhouse raffle, which was won by Dan Blakely of Champaign. The nearly two-and-a-half ton playhouse was delivered by tow truck that following Tuesday.

The Parkland student raffle represents the culmination of the spring project for the Parkland student chapter of the Association of Home Builders (AHB). The raffled playhouse was built entirely by Parkland chapter students. With moveable front and side windows, a locking door, and a fully sided and shingled roof this 10' by 16' playhouse gave Parkland students a chance to see the steps in the building process and to get hands-on experience with the same construction techniques normally used on a normal building.

The Parkland chapter is relatively new student activity since the Eastern Illinois Association of Home Builders (EIAHBA) approached Parkland just last fall. The purpose of Parkland's chapter is to introduce students to the residential building industry. With meetings every other Thursday during the school year, students participate in many activities relating to the design and construction of residential buildings. In addition to last Sunday's showcase, students were able to attend the National Kitchen and Bath Show last spring. This yearly event hosts the latest in design and technology for numerous home kitchen and bathroom appliances that would make even the most spoiled movie star jealous. In addition to learning the construction industry, the chapter also tries to promote job placement.

Catherine Stalter, the construction design and management coordinator for the student chapter at Parkland said that the other purpose of the Parkland chapter "is to provide student networking with the homebuilding industry."

Current chapter students have a range of studies with careers in the residential building and construction industry including project managers, developers, and architects.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from the raffle will go towards student scholarships in the building design and construction technologies. The criteria for the scholarships have not been determined, but will likely be decided by the board of directors of the Eastern Illinois National Association of Home Builders led by Association President Paul Phillips. The remaining fifty percent will be given to our local Habitat for Humanity.

Student chapter president Zack Hazen said that a fall project will contribute student time and expertise to the local Habitat, and at that time he will present a check for the other half of the raffle proceeds. Zack also said the fall project will most likely take place sometime this October, and will consist of framing or siding.

The Parkland chapter had ten members last spring, many of whom have graduated, and so will be recruiting new members for this fall. In addition to the activities the Parkland chapter attended last year, there are many additional projects in the works for the following school year.

For those thinking of getting into the residential building and construction industry, or if you want to make your own house the envy of the neighbors, this is definitely a good place to start. Any students who have questions, or who are interested in HBA should contact Cathy Stalter at CStalter@parkland.edu.