What’s Right With Our Schools: Chattanooga Woodworking Academy Awards
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) -Mayor Tim Kelly believes the creative economy is a crucial component of Chattanooga’s bottom line. The current class at Chattanooga Working Academy is the most decorated in its history. Their skills are a well-crafted example of “What’s Right With Our Schools.”
Bill Carney is the Director of the Chattanooga Woodworking Academy.
“This class is one of the best if not the best class I’ve ever had here. They just do great work. They did their required project last year and they did such a good job on it. I thought we needed to reward them. So, I’ve become friends with the mayor, and I asked the mayor if he would present a prize to the best student work,” Bill Carney, Director of the Chattanooga Woodworking Academy said.
“It’s super cool to have this woodworking academy and Bill Carney‘s long leadership. Because it really is the intersection of two things. God-given gifts, this amazing wood and the creative economy. We’re trying, we’re actively supporting the creative economy. This is a perfect example of it,” Chattanooga Mayor Time Kelly said.
“I was actually a member of the very first class at the academy. I don’t know, it gave me an opportunity to kind of set a new course in my life. I guess… I had been very office oriented, computer oriented… you know very technologically wrapped up. And this kind of freed me up to take a new path something very much more hands-on,” Former student, Nathan Kolb, said.
“The reason we’re here is because of this excellent work. This is a third-year project done by everybody at the school,” Carney said.
“These folks have got great careers making incredible furniture out of local wood. Mainly we have one mahogany piece here the rest of walnut. So yeah, this is kind of really essential to my vision for you know what the creative economy looks like in Chattanooga,” Kelly said.
“Very validated. Going definitely in the right direction,” Student Brandon Levanion, said.
“I feel very blessed of the skills that I have learned, in doing projects like this. It makes me very hopeful for the future. So, I feel honored,” Student Eddie Batten said.
“I’m honestly kind of speechless right now. I really didn’t think I’d win. But, I wish we could’ve voted for each other as you know (chuckles). But I’m overjoyed. All the people that helped me get here, it’s just so, so appreciated,” Michael said.
“I spent a good long time on these feet and these legs. And uh… yeah, I feel pretty good,” Fellow student Kaarsten says.
“These folks were making a very good living making these incredible pieces with their hands. And it is a different but a very distinct form of intelligence. You know make it, making these things and so this is the sort of thing. With the apprenticeship that we’re trying to do more of in Chattanooga,” Kelly said.
