Hampton High School Students Help Habitat for Humanity Build Solid Foundation for Deserving Family

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HENRY COUNTY, GA – Hampton High School students recently partnered with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) to help a Jonesboro family realize its dream of a forever home.

“It’s been a journey for me, and many times I wanted to give up,” said new homeowner Tukuanda Lewis. “I told my kids this our final move – we don’t have to move anymore, and I thank each and every one of you.”

Lewis made those remarks during the recent home blessing in which Henry County Schools staff joined SCHFH personnel, Lewis’ family, and other guests for what was also an emotional dedication ceremony.

Hampton High School Seniors Caroline Lloyd, Kenny Fonseca, and Gilberto Meza represented 22 fellow engineering, architecture, and agriculture pathway students who built the shed adjoining Lewis’ new home. 

“The students’ involvement means a lot to me,” Lewis added. “They are hard workers and put in a lot of time and effort. Knowing they volunteered makes me even more grateful, and I appreciate them so much.”

The Hampton High School team also built a shed for another SCHFH home adjacent to Lewis’ property.

“There is no greater experience for students than to see their hard work help someone in their own community,” said Hampton High School Work-Based Learning Instructor (WBL) Melissa Roberts. “Meeting the families and seeing their sheds being used with new Habitat for Humanity homes makes it even more rewarding.”

The idea for the shed build project emerged last summer when SCHFH community liaisons and Roberts began detailing partnership plans. The collaboration would enhance classroom instruction for students in the district’s WBL and Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) pathways.

SCHFH provided all materials, and work on the sheds began in November at Hampton High School under the guidance of engineering teacher Reggie Thompson. The students executed all construction phases for the two sheds in only three weeks, including roofing and painting.

“The experience was very overwhelming at first because there was so much to be done,” said Lloyd. “We all worked very hard, and it was very time-consuming. However, we didn’t mind, knowing we were helping somebody in need and wanted to do a good job.”

The shed construction project, while new, builds on the school’s ongoing relationship with SCHFH, which previously provided internship experience for an architecture pathway student. The organization’s CEO, Cynthia Jenkins, also mentored architecture students in designing house plans for tiny homes.  

“This Habitat build is life-changing for the families, but it is also life-changing for the students,” Jenkins said. “They don’t often get a practical application of what they learn, which is required in the building industry. If we can give students that head start, they become better at their craft, which benefits the community at large when they graduate. They learn marketable skills, and for them to see the fruits of their labor is always a plus.”

From project design to using blueprints, the immersive experience helped students apply mathematical and engineering concepts to the construction process and hone teamwork and critical-thinking skills.

“It was nice to use my knowledge and abilities to help others in the community,” Meza said. “To be a part of something that can change someone’s life is very meaningful to me because I am a big believer in giving. I want to build people’s dream homes and see their hopes become reality.”

Meza helped supervise the project and plans to pursue college-level studies in architecture or construction management.

“It’s hard to put into words, but being able to do something for others is fulfilling,” Fonseca said. “We all had a good time working on the shed, and it made me happy knowing it would go to benefit somebody else.”

Fonseca, who assisted primarily with the roofing work, is looking forward to a career in electrical engineering.

Junior Jeremyah O’Steen was also credited with making significant contributions during construction. 

“I wanted to help build the sheds because I knew it was helping people in need in our community,” O’Steen said. “I enjoyed working on the sheds with friends and was happy to know I was also improving my construction skills.”

“I am incredibly proud of these students’ accomplishments,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “Every initiative HCS pursues, including community partnerships, is designed to provide all students with a high-quality, world-class education. I thank our staff for their collaborative efforts to expand opportunities for our students and Habitat for Humanity for gifting them with this invaluable, hands-on experience.”

“The partnership between Henry County Schools and Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity provides invaluable opportunities for our students to apply their skills in real-world settings and aligns with our CTAE mission to ignite, prepare, and empower the next generation,” added CTAE/Youth Apprenticeship Supervisor Dr. Yvette Dupree. “Through internships, externships, and hands-on projects like constructing sheds for future homeowners, students gain meaningful experiences that shape their future careers. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and teachers, whose efforts have made a tangible impact in the community.”

SCHFH helps low-income families find opportunities, achieve stability, and improve their futures, building stronger families and neighborhoods through homeowner education and partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive, affordable homes and repair existing homes.