Students from Western Nevada College are putting their classroom skills into action by volunteering at a local senior living community, offering hands-on assistance with everyday home improvement tasks.
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Participants from the college’s Construction Management Program recently visited Solista Carson, where they helped residents with a range of handyman services—from installing cabinets to rearranging furniture.
The initiative allows students to gain practical experience while supporting residents who may find these tasks physically challenging or unsafe to complete on their own.
“They'll be here, and they're getting their little project sheets, and the students are working through what their needs are,” said Kyle Dalpe. “They've already speced out what the tools are. They went in and grabbed a pen toolbox with a bunch of things, and they brought it in, and they're going to go around the center here and fix, touch up, and do the projects one by one, almost like a room service called order.”
Tasks completed by students ranged from installing grab bars and mounting televisions to moving furniture and hanging plants—services that significantly improve safety and comfort for seniors.
The volunteer effort marks the second collaboration between the college and the senior community, reinforcing a growing partnership focused on service and learning.
Nigel Harrison, a Construction Project Management professor at Western Nevada College, helped launch the initiative and emphasized its practical value.
“Some of them are everything from moving furniture to installing grab bars to hanging plants to installing a flat screen TV on the wall, so we're just kind of using our skills that we learned in the construction program,” he said.
For residents, the program provides much-needed assistance and a chance to connect with younger generations. Organizers noted that even small tasks can become major challenges for seniors, making the students’ contributions especially meaningful.
Many of the participating students said the experience was as rewarding as completing a traditional construction project, citing the immediate impact of their work on residents’ daily lives.
Kenneth Bogle, a first-year student, said he felt compelled to volunteer after learning about the opportunity.
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"People don't necessarily have the time to come down and, you know, help with certain things," he said. "So things can kind of get pushed off, and it might be a little bit dangerous for certain individuals to try to do certain things like that by themselves, like hanging these cabinets and things of that nature, so I think that it's a great thing that we're able to come out here and assist with that."
Residents at Solista Carson also expressed appreciation for the students’ efforts, noting that their visits bring both practical help and a sense of energy and connection to the community.
Programs like this highlight the growing importance of experiential learning in construction education, where students benefit from applying technical skills in real-world environments while also developing communication and problem-solving abilities. Community-based initiatives not only strengthen ties between educational institutions and local residents but also help address everyday safety and accessibility challenges, particularly for aging populations. As workforce development becomes a priority across the construction industry, hands-on volunteer efforts such as this can play a key role in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals while fostering a culture of service and social responsibility.
Originally reported by Aimee Arellano in 2 News.
