High School Students Build Modular Homes

The 150 students of the Seminole Ridge High School Construction Academy have just completed a new modular home for a Lake Worth family. The home was dedicated to Widlene Cenom in a ceremony that took place on February 27. Cenom was selected as recipient of this new modular home because of circumstances that occurred in 2010.

When Cenom was a few months pregnant, she learned that her husband had been killed in Haiti’s tragic earthquake. At that time, she was having difficulties paying the bills and it would have been nearly impossible for her to qualify for a conventional mortgage. Habitat for Humanity stepped in and chose Cenom to receive a modular home plus the mortgage to pay for it.

Several other volunteers played a role in constructing this latest modular building along with the students of Seminole Ridge High School Construction Academy. The students’ teacher Rick Terkovich was instrumental in helping them complete this project. Architect David Porter volunteered his time as this venture’s project manager. Building inspectors from Palm Beach County and subcontractors from the area also lent their services to this job.

The Royal Palm Beach High School Air Conditioning Academy also took part in this program. Teacher Patrick Raney guided his students as they added the air conditioning system and the necessary ductwork to the new home. It was Habitat for Humanity’s responsibility to donate the land where the house was eventually built as well as the materials that were needed to construct it.

Modular construction is being chosen more often because it allows people to create a dwelling in a relatively short period of time. As separate sections of the building are being constructed at a factory, workers can make sure that the site grading, utilities and foundation are in place before the pre-constructed sections are brought to the site.

For more information on modular homes click here.