Published October 24, 2019
The Community Housing Association of Dodge City (CHAD) presented 11 scholarships to DC3 students on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Presented to students in the Building Construction Technology class, these scholarships were awarded at 806 Westlawn Ave., which is the location of this year’s CHAD building site. This is the third time that CHAD has presented scholarships. The first was in January 2015, and the second was in May 2019.
DC3 students receiving CHAD scholarships include: Servando Martinez, Dennis Linares, Jeffrey Schnitker, Heriberto Real, Ivan Sanchez Esquivel, Ismael Rosas, Wyatt Hessman, Mason Dickens, Carlos Mendoza, Ismael Ochoa and Roberto Carreto.
Through this hands-on partnership, which is in its fifth year, DC3 students build houses from the ground up, learning all facets of building construction.
“The program gives the students a chance to complete an entire structure, from framing all the way to a finished building,” said Patrick Shiew, DC3 construction technology instructor.
Students are exposed to framing, siding, roofing, insulating, painting, drywall installation and finishing, door and cabinet installation, and also interior trim work, Shiew said.
The students also get to work with and learn from local businesses who provide the necessary licensed contractors for the HVAC, electrical and plumbing aspects.
“We are lucky to have such great contractors in Dodge City who are willing to teach the students their trade while providing their service,” said Mollea Wainscott, Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation housing coordinator. “It’s beneficial to the students to learn the licensed trades along with the general construction.”
Wainscott said the partnership allows CHAD to accomplish three things: to build additional moderate-income housing units, to train future workforce and to clean up blighted neighborhoods.
This year’s build, like the previous one, will be a duplex, with each unit containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a one-car garage. The project, which began in September, is expected to be completed in May 2020.
By Lance Ziesch