Suffern High School students create interior design models for vets' tiny homes

Students at Suffern High School are taking classwork to another level by designing interior models for a tiny home village for veterans.

News 12 Staff

Feb 12, 2021, 1:52 PM

Updated 1,303 days ago

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Students at Suffern High School are taking classwork to another level by designing interior models for a tiny home village for veterans.
The young interior designers can now add the title to their transcript as they are the creative minds behind seven design models for the tiny home village.
"I said I want in on this, I want my kids to have this real-life experience where at a time it's so difficult to engage in school, they can do something meaningful,” says Suffern High School teacher Shawna Strenfel.
News 12 is told the designs are for the Rumshock Victory Village, which will eventually be built on 10 acres in Orange County.
The designs mimic a tiny home community for homeless veterans where each home is 600 square feet.
Students Alexandra Gusciora and Cassandra Colucci say the opportunity is rewarding in more ways than one.
"It was extremely exciting because not everyone, on a daily basis, get to change a veteran’s life," says Colucci.
"These veterans are just so important and have gone through so much,” says Gusciora.
The homes will be Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, include smart technology and be within a budget of $30,000.
Suffern High School student Samantha Ross tells News 12 the homes will be equipped with a Ring doorbell for security and Amazon’s Echo Show 8 for the ability to change temperatures within the home.
Student Ewa Topczewiski calls the experience mind-blowing.
“It's just so mind-blowing that our designs are actually going to be put in the community, and people will say, 'Hey these high schoolers took the job of helping these veterans,'” says Topczewiski.
Hudson Valley residents are invited to view the presentations and vote for their favorite.
Three designs will be selected by the end of March. To cast your vote, visit their website.
The Rumshock Veterans Foundation is still searching for its Orange County location.