Since 2018, Hopkinsville Community College has partnered with international Christian nonprofit Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes in Hopkinsville and allow college students to get vital experience in their career fields.
Nearly five years later, students from the community college are working toward building their fifth house with the nonprofit’s Pennyrile region office.
Community College Professional and Technical Studies Division Chair, Bob Smith describes the partnership as a win-win. The college provides students and equipment for the work, and the nonprofit provides the material. In the end, students walk away with hands-on experience and a deserving family will receive a home.
The home they are working on this year is located off of Cypress Street. Construction technology student, Landan Hancock who is working on the current home says he appreciates the hands-on experience because in the future he wants to build his own home.
Since the start of the partnership Smith says construction technology students in the residential carpentry program have worked on homes, and just starting this year air conditioning technology students will be installing the home’s HVAC system.
Looking toward the future, Smith says next year he hopes to involve their electrical construction students who can install the home’s entire electrical system. Further down the road, Smith says if they establish a plumbing program at the college, he would like to have those students install plumbing at their future home projects.
Along with on-the-job experience, Smith says the partnership helps students learn the importance of professionalism and feeling the pride of completing a house as a team.
Smith says once the home is built it will be sold for an affordable price to a qualifying buyer. More information about the Professional and Technical Studies programs offered at Hopkinsville Community College can be found at hopkinsville.kctcs.edu.
