Students from two classes at the Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center are working on a unique project for the young victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Construction Technology students are designing and building playhouses as gifts for child evacuees. They have two playhouses already finished with three more waiting to be painted.

Human Resources Management students are in charge of fundraising and arranging transportation.

"They won't be slinging hammers but they are really good managers," instructor Sherryl Gunnels said.

As far as Gunnels knows, the skill center's human resource program is the only one of its kind in the nation.

The career preparation and technical education center, operated by the Highline School District, is located in Burien next to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Among Construction Technology students involved are Matt Moehrle, who is serving as superintendent, Damont Long, the foreman, and Ricky Willers, a crew member.

Human Resources Management students include Lakendra McKinley, Erica Woodward, Brenna Jenks, Andrew Jones, Karli Summers, Megan Buxton and Miranda Figgins.

Figgins said that they don’t have an exact date to send the playhouses. But, she added, “Definitely by the end of January, they will be on the way.”

The idea came out of a class assignment by instructor Ken Pierson to watch news coverage of the Hurricane Katrina disaster with a focus on how construction practices affected the disaster.

"Our discussion quickly switched from bad construction to problems suffered by the kids," Pierson noted.

Observed Moehrle, "After watching the news, it's nice to find a way to be able to help."

According to Long, the plywood playhouses will be six feet by six feet.

Willers said they had planned to build all the playhouses in a month so they could be shipped south in time for Christmas. Their timetable fell through because of lack of funds.

Pierson estimates each building will cost approximately $270.

He added that his students are the designers of the houses and they figureed out what kind of materials to use.

A few students in the Human Resources Management program were invited to be partners in the project.

The project is especially compelling for Lakendra McKinley.

“When I first saw news about Hurricane Katrina, I was in shock," McKinley declared. "I have family in New Orleans and we couldn't reach them for a week and a half."

Her grandmother, who was a New Orleans resident, moved to Seattle to live with McKinley's uncle.

"At least she has family to support her," McKinley added. "Many don't have anybody. A lot of kids can't find their parents."

According to Jones, the management students are still looking for ways to raise funds and are also talking to groups about transporting the little houses.

Gunnels said that the students must raise the money because they can not use school funds for gifts.