Mustang woodworking students compete at State Industrial Arts Contest
Kylie Jackson poses with her game board in Quail Springs Mall on Friday evening. (Photo by Jacob Sturm)
By Jacob Sturm
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Shoppers wandering around Quail Springs Mall on May 3 had a chance to see many of the State Industrial Arts Contest entries from Mustang, Edmond and Putnam City students set on display throughout the premises.
“The show ran very well,” Mike McGarry, the Mustang Woodworking instructor, said. “I had about 20 Mustang students who volunteered to spend their entire day out there to help, and they did a great job all the way through clean up.”
McGarry said the contest also warranted plenty of good results, as Mustang came home with 15 award winners in woodworking.
Projects included all sorts of creative ideas, including a Grandfather clock created by Brody Marschall, a Guitar created by Griffin Hawthorne, a Dart Board made by Kylie Jackson, Chess Boards and more. There’s an immense value that students can take from woodworking, and the showcase in the mall helped emphasize that even moreso.
“We do a lot of different things,” McGarry said. “It makes it a lot of fun.”
Each entry on display was judged for Aesthetic Quality, Overall Appearance, Degree of Difficulty, Good Fitting Joints, Preparation of Surface and Quality of Finish. Entries also received blue, red or white ribbons depending on the score they received out of the possible 25 points from the judges.
McGarry also was complementary of many of his students for their work and effort they put into their projects.
As for the day with the projects on display, McGarry mentioned the former students who shared that they are continuing woodworking and similar skills in their professional careers at the mall.
That played right in to the value the students have proven they can get from woodworking through Mustang High School’s courses.
“For a few people, it gives them enough basic knowledge where they can get different jobs… I have had students do that before,” McGarry said. “…So, a job opportunity is for sure one of the things (woodworking offers that students can take value from). The second is it gives them a hobby where they can make some spare money out of their garage safely, and make presents for family members and things like that. And then the third one is it just helps them feel better about themselves.”
With the success of the 2024 show, McGarry indicated the event will be continued into the future.
“I just love having the show,” McGarry said. “I’m glad we’re continuing it… We’re still plugging away, (and are) doing the best we can.”
