Woodworking students win awards at Spring Show in Elgin

EHS “SPRING SHOW” on Tuesday evening honored freshman Devon Bershenyi with the Breckon Craftsmanship Award for her three-drawer, ash wood desk that she made in beginning woodworking class. TRISH YERGES photo

ELGIN — The annual “Spring Show” at Elgin High School was held Tuesday evening and featured handcrafted products made by students from Matthew Adams’ woodworking classes.

“This year we had work on display from 20 advanced woods students and 13 beginning woods students,” said Adams. “We also have some works on display from our adult woods shop.” 

Adams judged the students’ pieces and awarded the Breckon Craftsmanship Award to one student from the beginning woodworking class and another from the advanced woodworking class.

“It was really challenging to pick just one among them,” said Adams. “They were all very good.”

In the final analysis, though, Adams chose to award senior Shelby Strickland of the advanced woodworking class for her nine-drawer dresser and freshman Devon Bershenyi of the beginning woodworking class for her desk.

“The beginning woodworking students had one semester to complete their projects,” said Adams.

In that time frame, Bershenyi, the daughter of Jim and Keaver Bershenyi of Elgin, made her ash wood desk with three side drawers.

“I made a desk because I’ve always wanted one for myself,” said Bershenyi. “I’ve always done my homework at the kitchen table up until now. I’m going to put this desk in my bedroom.”

Award-winning student Shelby Strickland is the daughter of Pam and Mark Strickland of Elgin. Her advanced woodworking project was completed in one and a half semesters, and she chose to make a large dresser.

“I just wanted to make a big dresser to take with me for college,” said Strickland. “I made it from alder wood to match my night stand that I made in my sophomore year.”

Strickland has been taking woodworking in Adams’ class for four years, she said, and this was her largest, most difficult project yet.

She said she wants to continue making wood projects in the years to come.

The annual show is a long-running tradition at EHS and an opportunity for the woodworking students to display their products and furniture with pride.