Architecture Students Build on Success with Another Clean Sweep!

Each year students in the Simsbury High School (SHS) Technology & Engineering Education Department’s Architecture program compete in the Student Design competition at the Connecticut Home Show sponsored by the Connecticut Builders & Remodeling Association (CBRA) of Central Connecticut. In a repeat of the past few years, on February 27th, the SHS students presented their models and swept the top award categories.

The Student Home Design Competition allows students from all Connecticut high schools the opportunity to demonstrate their creative and technical skills and to be recognized for their talents. As part of the design criteria, each student must include a scale model home with presentation drawings. This year’s criteria was to design a three bedroom home not to exceed 2,000 square feet of floor space, and the students must include three National Association of Home Builders Model Green Building Guidelines. The models have to be presented in the ¼ inch scale and presented to a panel of judges, consisting of local architects, contractors, engineers, and business owners. This is the 71st year of the competition, with 91 entries from over 10 school districts in Connecticut.

Simsbury had 22 students who modeled houses, which were on display at the CT Home Show at the Hartford Convention Center through March 2nd. The award winners were presented on Friday, February 28th with a Special Congressional Recognition Award from Jahana Hayes along with cash/scholarships.

Congratulations to the following winners:

• 1st Place: Senior Owen Wollenberg
• 2nd Place: Senior Angelina Alessandrini
• 3rd Place: Senior Amoya Francis
• 4th Place: Junior Keeley Flaherty
• Honorable Mention: Senior Samantha Fong

At the end of the award ceremony, the CT CBRA also presented SHS Technology Education Teacher and Career & Technical Education Department Supervisor, Dr. Wendy Ku, with a Special Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Jahana Hayes for “consistently dedicating time to ensure that Simsbury High School students not only participate, but often place among the top in the state at the Annual Student Home Design Competition.”

Dr. Ku said, “I am completely honored and humbled to have received this recognition, but more proud of the students for their hard work and dedication through this complex process. I really enjoy working and helping these students develop their passion as they enter the workforce in the future. I look forward to continuing this work and collaborating with other teachers to enhance other architecture programs in the state.”