Youngstown, OH, March 9, 2026 — While most students spend their day in traditional classrooms, others are building real world skills in the school’s woodworking class. The hands on course allows students to design and create projects while learning skills that can be used long after graduation.
From measuring and cutting to sanding and assembling, students work through projects that require patience, focus, and attention to detail. The class gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in other subjects and use it in real world situations.
Student, Johnathan Brenner, said he chose to take woodworking because it is something he has always enjoyed. “I’ve always grown up building stuff. It’s something I’ve always found fun,” he said.
Brenner said his favorite project so far has been the mini pitching mound he built in class. He also plans to become a contractor in the future and believes the skills he is learning now will directly apply to his career. “I want to be a contractor, so a lot of what we learn in this class will be straight applied to my future career,” he said.
Woodworking teacher Mr. Ronshack explained that the class is about more than just building projects. “The goal is to develop a well rounded student for society,” he said.
He also hopes students leave with strong problem solving skills. “I hope they gain the ability to take care of themselves in the realm of problem solving,” he said.
When asked what makes the class different from others in the school, Ronshack said, “It’s hands on and applying what you’ve learned in other classes and bringing it here to use in real world situations.”
While some students take the class for career preparation and others take it as an elective, many agree that woodworking offers something different from a typical school day. The skills learned in the shop can last a lifetime, whether students pursue a trade or simply use them in everyday life.
By William Petty and Noah Owens
