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Construction
Teaching Today Wisconsin | Summer/Back-to-School 2025 Page 5

Habitat and Student Builders Unite for First Full-Scale

Home Build in West Bend

Home is where the heart is, as the saying “This will be a gift to the family who
goes—and there is plenty of heart going into will live here and to the neighborhood, and
the latest Habitat for Humanity home build in it’s been a true gift to the students involved in
West Bend. building it,” a visibly emotional Willmas said
Many helping hands have come together as he addressed the crowd that gathered at the
to erect a 1,920-square-foot house with event.
attached garage at 341 S. 7th Ave. Most While Willmas and students have part-
notably, under the guidance of West Bend nered with Habitat in the past to build tiny
Technology Education Teacher Rob Willmas, homes, the project on Seventh Avenue was a
more than two dozen high school students leap in scale and complexity that came with
from West Bend, Kewaksum, and Living Word both challenges and unforgettable lessons. For
high schools have spent much of the 2024-25 example, students were able to complete the
academic year building out the framework and construction of the tiny homes fully indoors at
laying the foundation. a nearby technical college.
The three-bedroom residence will even- The Seventh Avenue effort began
tually be the new home of Crystal and her two indoors, too, with students pre-building the
children. Like all Habitat for Humanity home- home’s framing inside the college facility.
owners, Crystal will purchase the home at cost But this time, the pieces were too large to
with no interest. Her monthly payments will, stay indoors. They had to be transported and
in turn, help fund future Habitat builds—a assembled on-site, exposing the students to “Seeing something you built with your students, it is a lesson in craftsmanship and
cycle of giving that helps more families realize the unpredictable Wisconsin elements and the own hands become a home for a real family, compassion they will carry for life. And for the
the dream of homeownership. realities of outdoor construction. that’s powerful,” said Habitat Executive West Bend community, it’s a reminder of what
This is the first time Habitat for Humanity Despite weather delays and the natural Director Russ Wanta as he addressed the group can be built when we build together.
of Washington and Dodge Counties has part- learning curve of building at full scale, the of students at the ceremony. Courtesy of the City of West Bend
nered with Willmas’s school build program students rose to the occasion. Come fall, a Tuesday’s groundbreaking was more
for a full-sized home construction project. new group of high school students will pick than a ceremonial turning of soil. It was a
On Tuesday, May 27, the groups celebrated up where this year’s builders left off, with the celebration of education, community, and the
their partnership and progress with a symbolic home expected to be completed by spring or powerful impact of coming together for a cause west-bend.k12.wi.us
groundbreaking ceremony. summer 2026. greater than oneself. For the Yepez family, it
marks the beginning of a new chapter. For the

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