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Engineers lend a helping hand

Russ Fuller

On Saturday, members of Engineers Without Borders donated labor to a Habitat for Humanity work site in Richmond, north of Logan. The USU Service Club wants to expand its service repertoire to include service projects in Cache Valley. The club, which has over 70 chapters nationwide, has traditionally worked on service projects in Third-World countries. “[We are] looking for something to develop our skills. We’re not just Engineers Without Borders, but engineers within our own borders,” Ren Bagley, member responsible for all local service projects, said. While at the Richmond site, volunteers finished work on the framing of the house, re-enforced some walls with plywood and began installing doors. Contractor Randy Johnson expects the house to be completed in about a month. “I’m very excited because the door is put up and it is very cool. I like my real house, I can’t wait to move in.” Zakiah Johnson, age 5, said.

Ren Bagley hopes to work with Habitat for Humanity on other projects in the Cache Valley area in the future, but for now, the club’s primary focus is on its projects in Peru, Uganda and Tibet, where the club is improving locals’ access to clean water and sustainable housing.

“The club takes a lot of energy and time, but it actually contributes to quality of life of people around the world, and now locally,” Bill Grenney, faculty adviser to the club, said.

-rfuller@cc.usu.edu