Farmingdale High School technology students welcomed special guests from the AHRC for a unique service project on Wednesday, January 28. The AHRC is an organization dedicated to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event was designed not just as a woodworking workshop, but as an opportunity for students to use the skills they learn in the classroom to pay it forward to the community.
Building Skills and Self-Esteem
The woodshop echoed with the rhythmic sounds of hammering as students took on the role of mentors, handing over hammers and nails to their guests. The group included "project managers"—students with three years of woodshop experience—who helped lead the daily routines. Farmingdale High School Technology Teacher Mr. Corey Sterler noted that this leadership is by design.
“We have cultivated a strong work environment culture where respect, patience, and safety are always the number one priority,” said Mr. Sterler. “With the addition of the AHRC, it was incredible to see the students welcome guests into their workshop and show them how to assemble materials in a safe and positive environment.”
Real-World Skills
The Technology Students handed over hammers and nails to their guests, guiding them through the construction process. Rather than just building for them, the students taught the AHRC participants how to use the tools themselves. For the students, it was a chance to see their classroom lessons translate into real-world impact.
“After being in these tech classes for a few years now, you wonder when you'll begin to use these skills in the real world. So when we get the chance to pass down our skills onto a new group of people eager to learn, you feel your experience begin to pay off,” said Farmingdale High School senior Ryan Kearney. “It feels really special to be a part of something like this, where you can introduce people to the new things that you love doing.”
A Job Well Done
After the sawdust settled, the group sat down to enjoy lunch together, celebrating the completed projects and the teamwork that went into building them. This workshop marks the continuation of a strengthening bond between the district and the AHRC.
“We are thrilled to see our partnership with the AHRC continue to flourish,” said Farmingdale Superintendent of Schools Paul Defendini. “We recently invited the group for a special daytime performance of our fall musical production in November, and this workshop is a wonderful evolution of that relationship. I look forward to seeing more projects that bring our students and community together.”
As the partnership grows, the district remains committed to creating inclusive spaces where every member of the community can learn, build, and belong.