Simsbury Students Excel at Home Show Competition

Every year Simsbury High School (SHS) students from the architecture program in the Technology & Engineering Education Department compete in the CT Home Show Student Design competition at the CT Home Show. Student performance this year resulted in an impressive cluster of awards, including first, second, and fourth place awards.

For the past 70 years, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Central Connecticut has held a Student Home Design contest as part of the Connecticut Home & Remodeling Show. The Student Home Design Competition started in 1948 and allows students from all Connecticut high schools the opportunity to demonstrate their creative and technical skills and to be recognized for their talents. Additionally, they are provided with the opportunity to win scholarships and awards.

As part of the design criteria, each student must include a ¼’=1’-0” scale model home with presentation drawings. This year’s criteria are 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.

This year the following SHS students won the following places and awards:

• 1st PLACE: Angelina Alesandrini (Grade 11)
• 2nd PLACE: Madison Goldfarb (Grade 12)
• 4th PLACE: Evelyn Neagoy (Grade 11)
• HONORABLE MENTION: Katie Winkleblack (Grade 10)
• HONORABLE MENTION: Amoya Francis (Grade 11)
• CREATIVE SITE DESIGN: Helen Tran (Grade 12)

The first place winner receives a $1,500 scholarship and a $1,000 cash prize, second place winner receives a $750 scholarship and $600 cash prize, third place winner receives a $300 cash prize, and fourth place winner receives a $100 cash prize. The Creative Site Design award earns $500 for the school of the winner of the award.

The awards ceremony was held on Friday, March 1, 2019, at 6:00 pm at the CT Convention Center during the Home Show. Congressman Joe Courtney presented the awards to the winners.

The students are from Dr. Wendy Ku and Kurt Dougan’s architecture courses. Dr. Wendy Ku, Career & Technical Education Department Supervisor said, “The students really enjoyed going through the design process when design and modeling their houses. They spend many hours and worked really hard. It is very rewarding to see their final house models displayed at the CT Home Show.”

Last year the SHS students won four awards, this year they won six, which is the most the students have ever won in this competition. The student design competition has become a tradition for students who are interested in pursuing careers in architecture, construction, construction management, civil engineering, building, and engineering. This competition provides students with the opportunity to design and build, as well as showcase their work and creativity. The panel of HBRA members, including local architects and contractors, served as the competition judges.

Said Dougan, "We are very proud of our students. We are appreciative of this great opportunity for the students to win scholarships and prizes for their designs and models."