Unionville High School students build benches in memory of late classmate – Daily Local

KENNETT SQUARE —

Unionville High School Technology and Engineering students recently constructed two benches for the Kennett Square YMCA in memory of late classmate Emma Hill, who was 16 when she died in 2022 from an illness.

Unionville High School senior and Hill family neighbor Courtney Brennan was the student lead on this project. She coordinated with the family, created the designs, developed a bill of materials, and led her classmates through the construction project.

“I was approached by Mr. Berkeihiser about the bench project in memory of Emma last year, and I wanted to lead the project because I wanted to see it done right for her,” said Brennan.

Brennan took measurements and photos of the benches and hardware outside the UHS athletic offices that these benches were to be modeled after. She then created sketches and scale models on the engineering software and compiled a materials list. The wood and hardware were purchased and delivered, and the uniquely shaped pieces were cut based on the plans along with the top boards being laser engraved. Brennan and her classmates then sanded, stained, and treated all the wood before assembling the benches.

“We are very proud of Courtney for all of her hard work and leadership on this project,” said Mr. Berkeihiser. “We’d also like to offer special thanks to all of the students in the Technology and Engineering Department for helping build and finish these benches. Our Technology and Engineering students help out with countless projects each year that benefit our local community.”

The Technology and Engineering Department offers two types of courses. Students can take traditional one-semester electives in woodworking, photography, video production, and computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) or choose one or more of the year-long honors-level engineering courses through Project Lead the Way. These are dual-enrollment classes in which students can earn college credits and gain valuable experience that can be used throughout their lives.

“The benches are a very meaningful project, and I’m glad to have had the contribution of my classmates and help from Mr. Berkeihiser to accomplish this for the Hill family and the Kennett community,” shared Brennan.