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Habitat for Humanity

March 6-14, 2010

During the Spring Break week, Washington College and carpenters from NeighborWorks Columbus built a house in Columbus, Georgia. The team consisted of 22 students, carpenters, staff and faculty in a project organized by the Columbus, GA Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Washington College students not only forged new friendships and enjoyed a great sense of community, they made a major impact on the lives of the family who will be occupying the house.

Click to enlarge images by Anna Baker '12, Kris Kelley '11, and David Wharton.

After traveling by van for two days, the team meets their recipient family, Melvin "Pops" and Cynthia Kemp, and blows off a little steam.
After traveling by van for two days, the team meets their recipient family, Melvin "Pops" and Cynthia Kemp, and blows off a little steam.
Amanda Whitaker '12, Nick Gaeto '12, Matt Stiles '11, Sarah Billmyre '11, Katie Hughes '12, Bethany Ackerman '12, Mary Fletcher '10, Gabby Tarbert '13, and Jackie Kelly '12 are ready to work as the sun rises on the first morning.
Amanda Whitaker '12, Nick Gaeto '12, Matt Stiles '11, Sarah Billmyre '11, Katie Hughes '12, Bethany Ackerman '12, Mary Fletcher '10, Gabby Tarbert '13, and Jackie Kelly '12 are ready to work as the sun rises on the first morning.
The foundation is ready for the team to begin building!
The foundation is ready for the team to begin building!
Gabby Tarbert '13, Amanda Whitaker '12, and Katie Hughes '12 carry the 2x4's that will frame the interior and exterior walls of the house.
Gabby Tarbert '13, Amanda Whitaker '12, and Katie Hughes '12 carry the 2x4's that will frame the interior and exterior walls of the house.
Joshua Vaughn, of NeighborWorks Columbus, shows Alyssa Velazquez '12 and Bethany Ackerman '12 how to lay out the boards.
Joshua Vaughn, of NeighborWorks Columbus, shows Alyssa Velazquez '12 and Bethany Ackerman '12 how to lay out the boards.
Charles Grigg '10 instructs Billie Ricketts '13 as to how to find the crown of the board.
Charles Grigg '10 instructs Billie Ricketts '13 as to how to find the crown of the board.
Amanda Whitaker '12, Emily Hordesky '12, Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Bethany Ackerman '12, and Alyssa Velazquez '12 hammer together to build a wall.
Amanda Whitaker '12, Emily Hordesky '12, Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Bethany Ackerman '12, and Alyssa Velazquez '12 hammer together to build a wall.
Nick Gaeto '12, Meredith Young '11, Kris Kelley '11, and Steve Stranahan '12 are a hammering team.
Nick Gaeto '12, Meredith Young '11, Kris Kelley '11, and Steve Stranahan '12 are a hammering team.
Meredith Young '11, Jackie Kelly '12, Anna Baker '12 and Sarah Billmyre '11 pose with new homeowner, Cynthia Kemp.
Meredith Young '11, Jackie Kelly '12, Anna Baker '12 and Sarah Billmyre '11 pose with new homeowner, Cynthia Kemp.
The team lines up to raise the first wall of the house.
The team lines up to raise the first wall of the house.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity
Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Nick Gaeto '12, and Steve Stranahan '12 wait until the wall is braced off to begin toenailing in the boards at the bottom.
Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Nick Gaeto '12, and Steve Stranahan '12 wait until the wall is braced off to begin toenailing in the boards at the bottom.
Matt Stiles '11 and Tony LoPiano '11 carry a window frame to the worksite.
Matt Stiles '11 and Tony LoPiano '11 carry a window frame to the worksite.
The team lines up again to raise the second exterior wall.
The team lines up again to raise the second exterior wall.
Habitat for Humanity
Matt Stiles '11 and Steve Stranahan '12 carry a big bedroom window past those raising the walls.
Matt Stiles '11 and Steve Stranahan '12 carry a big bedroom window past those raising the walls.
Jackie Kelly '12, Tim Danos '10, Anna Baker '12, Billie Ricketts '13 and Sarah Billmyre '11 hold up their end of the wall and wait to begin nailing.
Jackie Kelly '12, Tim Danos '10, Anna Baker '12, Billie Ricketts '13 and Sarah Billmyre '11 hold up their end of the wall and wait to begin nailing.
The front and final exterior wall of the house!
The front and final exterior wall of the house!
Professor Dave Wharton holds two corners for Jackie Kelly '12 to nail together.
Professor Dave Wharton holds two corners for Jackie Kelly '12 to nail together.
The group enjoys lunch on the grass.
The group enjoys lunch on the grass.
Billie Ricketts '13, Anna Baker '12, Gabby Tarbert '13, and Kelsey Hallowell '12 get close for the pickup truck ride over to the 2009 house.
Billie Ricketts '13, Anna Baker '12, Gabby Tarbert '13, and Kelsey Hallowell '12 get close for the pickup truck ride over to the 2009 house.
The 2009 house, built by Washington College, Belmont University and NeighborWorks Columbus!
The 2009 house, built by Washington College, Belmont University and NeighborWorks Columbus!
Most of the team works to sheath the exterior walls in plywood, while another group finishes building interior walls.
Most of the team works to sheath the exterior walls in plywood, while another group finishes building interior walls.
Tony LoPiano '11, Tim Danos '10, and Matt Stiles '11 work together to nail the plywood to the exterior walls.
Tony LoPiano '11, Tim Danos '10, and Matt Stiles '11 work together to nail the plywood to the exterior walls.
Katie Hughes '12 hangs the WAC banner in what will be the living room window of the house.
Katie Hughes '12 hangs the WAC banner in what will be the living room window of the house.
Roommates Emily Hordesky '12 and Kelsey Hallowell '12 nail the plywood around a window.
Roommates Emily Hordesky '12 and Kelsey Hallowell '12 nail the plywood around a window.
Meanwhile, roommates Anna Baker '12 and Katie Hughes '12 work on the opposing window.
Meanwhile, roommates Anna Baker '12 and Katie Hughes '12 work on the opposing window.
The end of the first day—the house has walls and is ready for the roof.
The end of the first day—the house has walls and is ready for the roof.
The local merchants of Columbus donate free and discounted activities for the Collegiate Challenge participants. The group took advantage of the discounted bowling offered on the first night.
The local merchants of Columbus donate free and discounted activities for the Collegiate Challenge participants. The group took advantage of the discounted bowling offered on the first night.
Professor Dave Wharton poses with the new homeowners, Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Kemp.
Professor Dave Wharton poses with the new homeowners, Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Kemp.
The team gets busy nailing together pieces of the porch.
The team gets busy nailing together pieces of the porch.
The porch is nailed together from the inside by Beverly Frimpong '12, Bethany Ackerman '12 and Kelsey Hallowell '12, while Bri Bonday '11 and Mary Fletcher '10 work on the outside.
The porch is nailed together from the inside by Beverly Frimpong '12, Bethany Ackerman '12 and Kelsey Hallowell '12, while Bri Bonday '11 and Mary Fletcher '10 work on the outside.
Kris Kelley '11 models the true mark of the Habitater—the farmer's tan.
Kris Kelley '11 models the true mark of the Habitater—the farmer's tan.
Tim Danos '10 poses with the WAC banner.
Tim Danos '10 poses with the WAC banner.
Raising the roof! Billie Ricketts '13, Professor Dave Wharton, Katie Hughes '12, Sarah Billmyre '11, Emily Hordesky '12 and Nick Gaeto '12 celebrate their success.
Raising the roof! Billie Ricketts '13, Professor Dave Wharton, Katie Hughes '12, Sarah Billmyre '11, Emily Hordesky '12 and Nick Gaeto '12 celebrate their success.
End of the second day of work—the house has most of its roof and its porch.
End of the second day of work—the house has most of its roof and its porch.
Apples to Apples, CatchPhrase, Bananagrams and endless games of Knockout keep the group busy while at home in their gym.
Apples to Apples, CatchPhrase, Bananagrams and endless games of Knockout keep the group busy while at home in their gym.
After being delayed for a day and a half by rain, the group feverishly begins work again on Thursday afternoon.
After being delayed for a day and a half by rain, the group feverishly begins work again on Thursday afternoon.
Maria Rose Hynson, Staff Advisor to the group, Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Alyssa Velazquez '12, Todd Bullard of NeighborWorks Columbus, and Nick Gaeto '12 install plywood decking on the front of the house.
Maria Rose Hynson, Staff Advisor to the group, Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Alyssa Velazquez '12, Todd Bullard of NeighborWorks Columbus, and Nick Gaeto '12 install plywood decking on the front of the house.
Down below, more of the team get busy installing siding.
Down below, more of the team get busy installing siding.
After working non-stop through the afternoon, the group attends the closing dinner. Following WAC's show-stopping performance of "Don't Stop Believin'" at the post-dinner talent show, Tim Danos '10 leads all five schools (roughly 150 participants) in a Taylor Swift singalong.
After working non-stop through the afternoon, the group attends the closing dinner. Following WAC's show-stopping performance of "Don't Stop Believin'" at the post-dinner talent show, Tim Danos '10 leads all five schools (roughly 150 participants) in a Taylor Swift singalong.
Habitat for Humanity
Ankle-deep mud doesn't slow down the team on Friday. Here, Matt Stiles '11 works to install siding on the side of the house.
Ankle-deep mud doesn't slow down the team on Friday. Here, Matt Stiles '11 works to install siding on the side of the house.
Kelsey Hallowell '12 gives Billie Ricketts '13 a helping hand with her piece of siding.
Kelsey Hallowell '12 gives Billie Ricketts '13 a helping hand with her piece of siding.
The ladies display some muscle in the mud.
The ladies display some muscle in the mud.
Nick Gaeto '12 and Maria Rose Hynson of the Provost's Office clean up the muddy worksite.
Nick Gaeto '12 and Maria Rose Hynson of the Provost's Office clean up the muddy worksite.
Not deterred by the downpour, Matt Stiles '11 and Billie Ricketts '13 work through the rain.
Not deterred by the downpour, Matt Stiles '11 and Billie Ricketts '13 work through the rain.
The group has a final lunch inside the house and waits out the worst of the storm.
The group has a final lunch inside the house and waits out the worst of the storm.
Darnell Parker, of the Office of Student Affairs, catches some much needed Z's, while waiting for the rain to stop.
Darnell Parker, of the Office of Student Affairs, catches some much needed Z's, while waiting for the rain to stop.
Mary Fletcher '10 inscribes a bible that will be given to the homeowners at the dedication ceremony of the house.
Mary Fletcher '10 inscribes a bible that will be given to the homeowners at the dedication ceremony of the house.
A very muddy group poses for the final construction picture.
A very muddy group poses for the final construction picture. Back row: Nick Gaeto '12, Matt Stiles '11, Tony LoPiano '11, Amanda Whitaker '12, Meredith Young '11, Charles Grigg '10, Steve Stranahan '12, Tim Danos '10, Maria Rose Hynson, Office of the Provost. Second Row: Emily Hordesky '12, Kelsey Hallowell '12, Anna Baker '12, Mary Fletcher '10, Sarah Billmyre '11, Jackie Kelly '12, Todd Bullard of NeighborWorks Columbus, Bethany Ackerman '12, Stanley Bullard of NeighborWorks Columbus, Beverly Frimpong '12. Front Row: Alyssa Velazquez '12, Dave Wharton, Department of Economics, Bri Bonday '11, Gabby Tarbert '13, Katie Hughes '12, Joshua Vaughn of NeighborWorks Columbus, Darnell Parker, Office of Student Affairs, Billie Ricketts '13 and Kris Kelley '11.
The team enjoyed dinner at the home of Cathy and Chuck Williams, of NeighborWorks Columbus, the company that has served as WAC's house construction leader for the last three years.
The team enjoyed dinner at the home of Cathy and Chuck Williams, of NeighborWorks Columbus, the company that has served as WAC's house construction leader for the last three years.
The rows of muddy shoes and boots outside of the home gym mutely testify to a week of hard work.
The rows of muddy shoes and boots outside of the home gym mutely testify to a week of hard work.