Students from Notre Dame High School in Red Deer saw their hard work pay off today as they celebrated the completion of a house they built.   

As part of the high school's Building Opportunities Program, 14 students spent 250 hours on site and 125 hours in the classroom learning how to build a house from the ground up.

The group of students have even given themselves a name, Cougar Construction.  

Teacher Mike VanLanduyt, said this opportunity gives students the skills they need to get their foot in the door of the construction industry.

“Over the years the one thing that I’ve seen is that the alumni are successful. Being a part of Cougar Construction and Building Opportunities has had a chance to mean something in our community and hopefully that always continues. Those alumni now recognize the guys who have that experience.”

VanLanduyt added this is the 13th year of the program in partnership with Laebon Homes.

Grade 11 student, James Lague was part of the crew who worked on the latest home on Truant Crescent and said the program has given him skills for the future.

“It was a lot of fun just seeing what it took from surveying all the way to this finished product. I had a lot of fun with the excavation and digging the foundation which was my favourite part. If I can I will run my own business or just be a heavy duty operator and dig dirt.”

The students started working on the home in September of last year and wrapped up in December. The next program will start again in September of this year.