At Charmaine and Robert Price Career Institute South, sawdust fills the classroom as students sand, drill, and assemble wooden rocking horses, each one built by hand for children staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
For 21 years, Terry Stotts’ classes have crafted and donated wooden rocking horses to bring comfort and joy to children during the holiday season.
The annual project teaches students practical woodworking skills while giving them a chance to give back to the community.
Edgar H., a senior at Sunset High School, puts the finishing touches on a wooden airplane, carefully sanding the edges before moving on to the next step, explaining what goes into each creation.
“It’s more than a rocking horse,” he said. “It takes a lot of work and it gets dusty and dirty, but it’s worth it.”
Layla G. enjoys assembling the horses and choosing the details that make each one unique.
“I like installing the yarn for the mane and tail,” she said. “And I love seeing all the different colors come together.”
“I am very proud of the students, they really worked hard,” said Terry Stotts, Career Institute South construction teacher. “This project not only brings smiles to the children at the Ronald McDonald House, but also to the students who built them.”
Every horse tells a story of perseverance and creativity, and each student leaves the project with a sense of accomplishment that can’t be measured in grades or test scores.
By the time the rocking horses are delivered to the Ronald McDonald House, students learn the power of generosity, craftsmanship, and community. For the students at CI South, the project is a reminder that giving is a skill worth learning, too.
