Patti Johnson of BHA Real Estate and the ABLE Student Construction Program would like to invite you to an Open House on July 25^th from 1:00 to 2:00 at the second home (901 Reagan Drive – South Adams Street – CED Sub Division) built by local students and local contractors.  The ABLE Student Construction program is a unique program where students have the ability to spend ½ of their school day learning all of the facets of home construction.  Four days of the school week are spent “in the lab” which would be on the construction site.  The fifth day of the week the students are in the classroom where Central Community College instructor Howard Hanson provides classroom instruction on construction.

Over the past two school years, Lexington High School students have built two houses from the ground up.  The first home was sold last spring to a Lexington couple and now the second home is complete and ready to be sold.  The goal of the program is to expose students to every phase of building a home in hopes that students are encouraged to look into numerous careers available to them in the construction industry while also improving local housing stock.  Jerry Dannehl provides the students with the “lab” experience of building the home and serves as the general contractor.  Jerry works with a number of Lexington sub-contractors on these homes in order that the students can meet, work with, and learn from business owners who could possibly employ these students in the future.  For instance, on the first home Dawson Public Power donated an Energy Star furnace that Jones Plumbing and Heating installed that kept total winter utility bills at $132 per month.  It is the willingness of businesses like these that donate supplies, time, effort and instruction that really make the program successful.  A true partnership from all involved definitely increases the likelihood of these students developing a career path right here in the area.

 Since the program started in the fall of 2007, 18 students have participated in the program and have since moved on in various directions with most working toward or are already in a field that directly relates to the experience they had when building a home in high school.  Two students are studying Construction Science at UNK, four students are enrolled at CCC in Construction, two are enrolled at CCC in Mechanics, three are currently employed in manufacturing and construction, one is a plumber apprentice, and one is an Army Ranger.  Careers in construction and construction trades are in high demand and are poised to remain that way.  The program is devised to provide students with the knowledge and know how in these specific careers in order that they can find a good career matching up with their skills and interests.

 This is truly an unique program for the area and without the following partners the successes enjoyed thus far would not be possible.  The ABLE program would like to thank all of the following for their participation in the program for the benefit of the students and future of the area.  City of Lexington, Lexington Public Schools, Central Community College, Dawson Area Development, Lexington Council for Economic Development, ABLE Program, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, J.A. Dannehl Construction, TL Sund Constructors, Mead Lumber, Lexington Optimist Club, Fastenal, Jones Plumbing and Heating, Walmart, Fagot Electric, BHA Real Estate, Designer Craft Woodworking, Paulsen Inc., Central Nebraska Truss, Lien Lawn Service, M&D Masonry, Dawson Public Power District, Platte Valley Seamless Gutter, Rimpley Drywall, Johnny on the Spot, Bliven Construction, Five Star Flooring and Pioneer Door.

 The ABLE Student Construction program plans on moving forward with the construction of their third home in the CED Sub Division during the 09-10 school year.