You cannot make your bed and sleep in it too.
At least, not if your bed was a high school project shown off at the Applied Technology Fair Monday, May 7.
The ATF, hosted by the Department of Technology Teaching Education and presented in the WSC Terrace, provided an open invitation throughout Utah for high schools to attend, said Ron Gonzales, chair and professor of Technology Teaching Education.
Students displayed projects, which began as early as last August, and competed against each other in beginner or advanced groups, according to the ATF registration form.
Some of the show categories were woodworking, metalworking, technical drawings and automotive. Judges for the contest portion of the fair were selected from local businessmen who have expertise in these categories.
Trever Arnold, a sophomore from Union High School, has an armoire on display this year.
However, he is not here for the competition.
“My mom wanted it,” he said about his 8-foot high piece of furniture.
Arnold, who also built a curio cabinet last year, said he plans to continue studying woodworking and hopefully make it a career.
“I just love to build,” he said.
Apparently many high school students have had similar feelings.
Gonzales said BYU has hosted the ATF for 20 years.
It provides students an avenue to shine that might otherwise be overlooked.
“Not everyone can be a quarterback or a poet, but this is a section of school where students can excel, Gonzales said.
The TTE department also offers classes designed to prepare future teachers of applied technologies, according to the department Web site.
The curriculum requires classes ranging from electricity to plastics, to provide students a background in a variety of different fields.
“Where some students are turned off to education, applied learning stimulates it,” Gonzales said.
Aaron Reary, a teacher of cabinetry at the Unitah Basin Applied Technology Center in Roosevelt Utah, has found this to be true.
The UBATC has been teaching vocational classes for six years, and has brought students to the ATF for the last four years, Reary said.
Some students just come to display and compete. But, some seniors are actually offered college scholarships, he said.
Even those who do not come to display, gain experience and high school art credit by taking these classes, Reary said.
Work experience can also be a benefit provided to students.
“I have two students now who work in a cabinetry shop,” said Reary, who also gained most of his cabinetry experience while in high school.
Gonzales said the ATF event had to be toned down this year because of construction in the WSC Ballroom.
Normally there are areas for display and skills, this year however, only the display portions were admitted, Gonzales said.
The displays for the ATF were set up and judged Monday, May 7, and will be on display until noon on Tuesday, May 8.
