Students from Franklin County Schools Career & Technical Center are gaining hands-on, real-world work experience while also learning to give back to the community. They are accomplishing this with the help of their Electrical Instructor Allen Neal. This is the first year for the electrical pathway at the Center and it currently has 87 students enrolled in the program.
Thirteen of those students have volunteered their time to help a local couple renovate their aging home in the Thorn Hill area. Neal noted that the work has been completed almost exclusively after school hours. Therefore, students have spent their nights, weekends, and even Thanksgiving break working with Neal and the other adult volunteers onsite.
Neal is a certified electrician and former electrical inspector in Scott County. He guided the students through completely re-wiring and installing a new electrical service at the home. The goal of the pathway is to give the students the necessary skills to prepare themselves for a career in the electrical trades. Eventually, he hopes that all of his students will be able to co-op with an electrical contractor during their senior year.
Keith Roark is spearheading the renovation efforts. He recently found out about this local couple in need, who are veterans, and then coordinated with different groups to help update their house. He has brought together many different people and organizations such as the VFW as well as 5 to 6 area churches.
One of the student’s father is currently serving in our armed forces in the Middle East. Therefore, he arranged for an American flag which was flown on December 4th, 2023, at Joint Training Center Task Force Thunder Headquarters in Zarqa, Jordan to be presented to the couple when the house is completed. This gesture is meant to honor their continued support for our soldiers.
The group plans to turn the house back over to the owners this Saturday, February 3rd, 2024. Roark has arranged for a barbeque celebration with the couple and the volunteers to take place at that time.
