A regional technology fair recently named the high school shop program in Greensburg, Kan. as the area’s best, an outstanding feat considering that the school and the rest of the town was destroyed five years ago by massive tornado that also killed 11 people.

Kiowa County High school was named outstanding technology progam of 2012 during the Western Kansas Technology Fair, where seven of the school’s 10 woodworking entries also were awarded medals for being top projects in their divisions. Among those awards was a plaque for a group of students who built a large entertainment center, coffee table, end tables and a large bookcase for the town’s new senior center.     

Woodworking students began the next school year working out of a 7 ft. by 14 ft. trailer, and used portable power tools to furniture and cabinetry for classrooms and libraries. Later that year, they moved into a temporary 40 ft. by 80 ft. building, which was used for four years until the new school was completed in 2011. Now, students are working in a 80 ft. by 120 ft. building that includes a finish room and an air-conditioned classroom, Industrial Technology teacher Peter Kern said.

Jet and Powermatic donated a tablesaw, bandsaw and assortment of other shop machinery and tools to help with the rebuilding. 

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