News

Superintendent Maureen Lynch and Utility Director Marlene Ladderbush are pleased to share that 14 Whittier Tech seniors in the Carpentry pathway recently completed a community project at the Georgetown Water Department.

Throughout the fall, Whittier Tech carpentry students took on a project for the Georgetown Water Department: replacing its old handicap ramp.

Last winter, the Georgetown Water Department was part of a town survey that analyzed all town buildings. The survey revealed issues with the department’s handicap ramp.

Director Ladderbush reached out to Whittier Tech Vocational Coordinator Paul Moskevitz, who is a Georgetown resident, for help with the project. Moskevitz then coordinated students to rebuild the ramp with the help of Carpentry Instructor Mike Sandlin.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) students and their instructor Scott Robertson designed and drew the blueprints for the project.

Carpentry students then demolished the old ramp and installed a completely new, code-compliant handicap ramp. They also redid the stairs and installed a box for Georgetown residents to drop off their water bill payments so they would not have to enter the building while construction was being completed.

“The Whittier Tech students who completed this project did an outstanding job,” said Director Ladderbush. “The kids were great, hard-working, well-mannered, and extremely polite. I cannot thank them enough for their work, which will benefit our community for years to come.”

Students completed the project during their shop week. All students met at Whittier Tech before heading over to the job site, and they returned to Whittier near the end of each school day.

The seniors who worked on the project include:

• Jeffrey Avila, of Haverhill
• Christopher Bognanno, of Haverhill
• Aidan Collins, of Haverhill
• Stephanie Darmody, of Ipswich
• Shannon DeJesus, of Haverhill
• Aiden Dupre, of Haverhill
• Noah Gayner, of Haverhill
• Craig Kielbania, of Ipswich
• William King, of Merrimac
• William Monroy, of Haverhill
• Jordan Salthouse, of Georgetown
• Zachary Sieminski, of Haverhill
• Benificent Silva, of Haverhill
• Connor Swales, of Haverhill

“Each of these students exemplifies the ideals of Whittier Tech with their work and continued devotion to the surrounding communities,” said Superintendent Lynch. “These community projects allow our students to connect with community organizations and their members and provide them with valuable experience along the way.”

From left, Whittier Tech students Aiden Dupre, Jordan Salthouse, Connor Swales, Stephanie Darmody, Shannon DeJesus, Aidan Collins, and Zachary Sieminski with the new handicap ramp they helped build at the Georgetown Water Department. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

The Georgetown Water Department’s old ramp before it was replaced by Whittier Tech students. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

From left, Whittier Tech students Craig Kielbana, William King, Benificent Silva, Christopher Bognanno, and Noah Gayner. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

From left, Zachary Sieminski, Jordan Salthouse, and William Monroy work on the base of the ramp. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

From left, Zachary Sieminski, Jeffrey Avila, Benificent Silva, William King, Noah Gayner, and Christopher Bognanno. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

Aiden Dupre, left, and Zachary Sieminski work on the ramp project. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

Shannon DeJesus works on cutting wood for the new ramp. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)

From left, Whittier Tech students Aiden Dupre, Connor Swales, Jordan Salthouse, Stephanie Darmody, William Monroy, Shannon DeJesus, Zachary Sieminski, and Aidan Collins with the drop box they installed for Georgetown residents to drop off their water bills. (Photo Courtesy Whittier Tech)