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HUMBOLDT, Iowa (AP) — Four Humboldt High School students are earning college credit as they help build a house through a program at Iowa Central Community College.
The students are participating in the Early Bird Program with the community college that allows them to spend their school day mornings building a house, the Fort Dodge Messenger (http://bit.ly/1wHWY4D ) reported.
"It's a really neat program because I could stand in the classroom and try to teach them stuff, but they still might not be able to practically apply it," instructor Dan Oswald said. "But if they come here and build, they can just go do it then."
Senior Colby Miller said he'll likely use his work experience to enter the construction industry. He's already been able to use his time in the program, which is in its 13th year, to his advantage.
"You learn the basics of how to do something," he said. "I did roofing over the summer."
Construction on the home students are currently working on is expected to finish before New Year's Day. Oswald is planning to have an open house near graduation so families can see what students have built.
The Humboldt County Housing Development Corp. funds the annual project. The properties typically sell for about $250,000 and are "really efficient houses, too," Oswald said. The owner of a home built last year was able to heat it for less than $100 a month.
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Information from: The Messenger, http://www.messengernews.net
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