For the past three semesters, Technology and Engineering Education (TEE) program students participated in National Rebuilding Day. National Rebuilding Day is a one day event held annually on the last Saturday in April in more than 865 cities and towns throughout the country. This past year an additional event was also held on November 11, 2010. TEE students partnered with Farmington High School students for the Rebuilding Together Hartford events in April and November 2010. In April 2011 they participated in Rebuilding Together New Britain.
The TEE faculty and students became involved in Rebuilding Together at the invitation of Mr. Rick Mulcunry, a Farmington High School Technology Education teacher, and CCSU Tech-Ed graduate. Rick and his students have been participating as National Rebuilding Day volunteers for many years. Many of Rick's former students are now School of Engineering and Technology students. The past Farmington High School/CCSU TEE Rebuilding Together events provided students with experience in community service projects including roofing a garage, erecting a shed, replacing a stockade fence, and replacing the frame and floor on a porch to mention a few.
During the April 2011 Rebuiding Together event TEE faculty and students managed their own Rebuilding Together job site in New Britain. Some of the projects for this event included building a wheel chair access ramp, painting a kitchen, painting exterior doors and windows, refastening gutters, installing bathroom grab bars, installing a new bathroom faucet, installing railings on basement stairs, and planting a flower garden.
There were 28 School of Engineering and Technology volunteers at the April 2011 event. Liz Chatis, a TEE sophomore, was the Event Coordinator, and Adriano Borgia, a TEE Senior, was the Equipment Manager and one of 6 Task Leaders. Both Liz and Adriano are veteran Rebuilding Together volunteers. Dean Kremens also served as a Task Leader. TEE faculty member, Dr. Michael Vincenti served as the House Captain.
When asked about her past "Rebuild" experiences, Liz said, "Serving the community is a big part of teaching. Rebuild is a great way to get out there and help out." Dr Vincenti remarked, "Our students really get excited about Rebuild. In addition to developing an understanding of the community service responsibilities associated with teaching, they also gain real world renovating experiences that dovetail nicely with the Building Design and Construction curriculum in the TEE program."
Click Here for the Photo Gallery
