Minuteman Students Volunteer in Pearlington, Mississippi
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Within a little less than two hours on the morning of August 29, 2005, 'Mary', a 70 year old resident of Pearlington Mississippi lost her home and, with the exception of two dishes later found in the debris, everything she owned. Recovery for Mary, as well as this small American town, has been slow.
Three years after Hurricane Katrina, Mary still had no habitable home. She had no hot water and no working kitchen. Many other people in this small town of 1,600 still suffer the effects from the storm.
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Minuteman saw an opportunity not only to help an individual and a community, but also to give students an opportunity to use their considerable trade skills. Through generous local donations, Minuteman sent a team to Pearlington to help rebuild Mary's home.
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Mary's great granddaughter 'supervises' electrical work
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Brad Lowe of Boxborough hooking up a new water system
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Brad Lowe, a senior plumbing student from Boxborough, had never left New England. He was able to see first hand what Hurricane Katrina did to the area. Chris Berg, a senior HVAC student from Watertown had also wanted to help someone who needed help. Both Minuteman students were happy to work on rebuilding a home and would do it again.
The Minuteman team, including Superintendent Dr. Ed Bouquillon, inspect a rebuilt house
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Minuteman carpentry students Tyler Hershey and Matt Zimmerman stay busy during school vacation
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Mary had actually been living in a trailer for quite sometime. Since Hurricane Katrina, she had also lived in temporary shelters and even had needed to move to New England while waiting for her home to be rebuilt and made livable.
Colin Donahue and Chris Berg installing a new hot water heater
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Colin and Chris' finished project - a new hot water system
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"All I knew about Hurricane Katrina is that it ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and other southern states and took homes away from thousands of people" wrote Colin Donahue in the journals students needed to maintain. "After visiting Mississippi, I have come to realize how blessed I am to be living the way I am. The people in Mississippi have lost nearly everything in the storm and have just begun to rebuild and recover. Photos cannot describe what these people have been through. I also take an enormous amount of pride in myself for helping down in this area."
Mary, her great granddaughter and the Minuteman team in her rebuilt kitchen
Rose Romano, a Minuteman Administrative Assistant for the past eight years and trip chaperone worked alongside the students and found the trip very rewarding. "It felt incredible to help; the students did everything they needed to do. I think they all had an incredible experience."
Superintendent Dr. Ed Bouquillon shares a vision of both serving the community and providing important life experiences for Minuteman students. "I'm extraordinarily proud of the effort. We completed this project as a team in real-life conditions. I was impressed with the commitment of our students and staff to serving this community. They demonstrated care for the gulf coast region by their actions. They are an example to every student in every career and technical school in the state. We will continue this service to these citizens of the gulf coast, and perhaps wherever the need arises. Our students have skills that are in high demand. Our commitment to servicing our community will provide Minuteman students unique opportunities and advantages later in life."
Minuteman Students:
Chris Berg
Samantha Chambers
Colin Donahue
Tyler Hershey
Brad Lowe
Will Roche
Joe Rixe
Matt Zimmerman
Minuteman Teacher and Staff
Superintendent Dr. Ed Bouquillon
John Donato
Rose Romano
Chris Traganos
Donations:
Minuteman Parent Association
McCusker - Gill, Inc.
United H.V.A.C. Inc.
Wakefield Thermal Solutions
Gourmet Banquets Inc. (Crestview)
Glaziers & Glassworkers Local 1044
Friends at Arlex Oil Coporation
Lexington Housing Assistance Board, Inc.
Howell & Minchello - LLP
Forester Millwork LLC
Friends of Minuteman High School
The Killeen Family
Holovak and Coughlin Sporting Goods
More about the Minuteman carpentry division - At Minuteman, residential construction skills are developed from blueprints to foundations to full construction. Students annually construct a superinsulated house or a larger semi-commercial building. A college articulation agreement is presented for students who wish to proceed to construction management and supervision.
More about the Minuteman plumbing division - Students prepare for the state journeyman’s license examination. From design to estimation to installation, from troubleshooting to special systems, the Minuteman students become plumbing experts.
More about the Minuteman electrical division - Students receive full preparation for the state licensing examination. From circuit design to electrical codes, from installation to troubleshooting, from remote control systems to security alarm installations, the students become highly qualified electricians. Minuteman operates an articulation agreement with Wentworth Institute.
For more information concerning the Pearlington Recovery Project, please visit the official web site at www.pearlington.info
For Minuteman Information about this project, please contact John Donato at 781-861-6500, x395
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