A class from Richmond High School gained hands-on construction experience at Indiana University East. Brad Walton’s building construction class partnered with the campus to help build a well-known television game show set for its annual Guidance Counselors’ Breakfast held November 3.

The Guidance Counselors’ Breakfast is an event for high school guidance counselors from Indiana and Ohio in which IU East provides information about its academic programs, admissions information and scholarships for the counselors to distribute to qualified students from their high schools.

IU East approached Walton to ask if his class would build the set. In two weeks’ time, his class of 21 students constructed a Hollywood Squares set replica in Vivian Auditorium.  The television game show was popular in 1971, the year IU East was established by the Indiana University Board of Trustees. IU East is celebrating its 40th anniversary this fall.

“IU East partners with Richmond High School in a number of ways and the construction of this large and complex set, in a short amount of time, confirms the dedication and talent of RHS faculty and students,” said Assistant Director of Admissions Angela Schultz. “We loved having them on campus!”

Walton said the partnership provided his students with the opportunity to build a residential structure on a small scale, to learn framing, wiring and to work together as a team. The students were divided into five crews, each led by a foreman.

“When you make a commitment like this, it’s all in. It’s been a great partnership. IU East has been really great to work with,” Walton said.

Junior RHS student Mitch Wesler is one of the foreman in the class. He said the class enjoyed being on a college campus to work.

“It’s been neat doing a project that gives you professional experience instead of just being in the classroom,” Wesler said.