Norton Student Captures First Place in Woodworking Competition

Adam Jurgilewicz of Norton is the overall First Place winner of the 9^th Annual New England Student Woodworking and Design Competition held Friday, June 8, 2012 at Marlboro High School. His award includes $500 cash and 100 board feet of lumber.

Adam began his junior year in search of a project for his cabinetmaking shop at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton. After examining various desk models online, Adam took the best features of each and crafted a 33” deep, 62” long and 52” high quality roll top desk of solid oak, complete with 17 pigeon holes and dovetail drawers. Unlike many desks which are limited to placement against a wall, Adam’s desk has raised panels and finish on all four sides, making it suitable as the centerpiece of a room.

Adam acknowledged the instruction and support of his cabinetmaking shop teachers, Roland Bessette, Joseph Markt and Edward Perry, who described Adam as a hardworking and focused 11^th grader with a strong work ethic. Seeing the quality and talent in Adam’s project, they recommended and encouraged him to enter the New England wide competition.

With another full year ahead of him at Southeastern, Adam will have more chances to develop and expand his craft. His award winning desk now serves as an office desk for himself and his family. Adam is considering making a matching desk chair when he returns to Southeastern Regional as a senior in September.

The cabinetmaking shop offers instruction and guidance in furniture making, cabinet fabrication, drafting, finish carpentry, solid surfaces such as Corian countertops, stair building, model making and Lutherie - the craft of making string instruments such as acoustical guitar and ukulele, to name a few. 

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School is a public 9-12 vocational high school located in Easton, Massachusetts, serving approximately 1,250 students from the city of Brockton and the towns of East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater.