At 7 in the morning, many high school students are eating breakfast, taking showers or attempting to finish homework forgotten the night before.

For those in woodshop, this is not the case. The few students who decide to join must commit themselves to waking up early in order to assemble and construct various projects.

The choice to sign up for a zero period class resigns these types of privileges. Some students, however, choose woodshop over sleep in order to gain experience outside the usual high school curriculum.

Trevor York, ’12, signed up in 8th grade because of the curiosity he had for woodworking.

“I joined woodshop because it sounded fun to build things,” York said. “I always wanted to know how to use tools and now I know. I also know how much fun it is to make something and then see the end product of the project.”

Austin Maddux, ’13, also joined because of an interest in building projects and has been in the class for three years. Although he has made a collection of objects already, he desires more time in the class to further hone his skills.

“I like to build and use my hands,” Maddux said. “But to me, an hour doesn’t really seem like enough time to get anything done. It’s just too short.”

Randy Hurley, the woodshop instructor, has taught on campus for six years. He began working with wood in the 7th grade and continued to take a woodworking class throughout high school and college.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands,” Hurley said. “I’m the kind of person who enjoys doing something rather than learning it from a book.”

Both York and Maddux say they hold their instructor in high esteem and know his knowledge contains the key to a well-made project.

“[Hurley] is a cool guy,” Maddux said. “He knows a lot about his profession and always has cool and interesting stories, ranging from things like a man being electrocuted to the woodshop building almost being burned down.”

Hurley, who works in the industrial arts and custom woodworking business, provides a clear explanation for his students and regards them as professionals, he said.

“I enjoy teaching kids,” Hurley said. “It’s fun to watch them attempt to learn something and then watch the light bulb above their head come on when they get what I’m trying to teach them.”

Many of the students in woodshop build something in order to use it at home or sell it to a local venue. Those like York make something for a personal use. York has played baseball since childhood and is now in the process of making a bat.

“Usually, I make something like a bookcase or a cutting board because I need it around the house,” York said. “Now, I’m making a baseball bat because I love baseball and have always wanted to make one.”

Anyone interested in woodworking can visit Hurley on Thursday nights in Building 8 once Christmas break has ended. Hurley’s own work can be seen at the KMPH news station in the form of the KMPH news sign and the weather set wall.

For more information, visit the March 5, 2008 article, Woodshop wakes carpenters.