On Thursday, November 9, 2023, over 200 community members visited the Rancho Cielo campus to praise the students’ achievement and tour the award-winning 847-square-foot next-generation healthy modular home prototype.
Everyone from Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig (pictured below) and the Director of Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, Dennis Donohue, to Monterey County District 1 Supervisor Luis A. Alejo (pictured below) and Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto (pictured below) came to see Nexus_01 in person. The home—meticulously crafted to create a harmonious living experience that blends comfort, high-end style and environmental responsibility—did not disappoint.
Rancho Cielo’s Founder, Judge John Phillips, spoke to an excited audience—with many students’ family members in attendance. He carried the theme that continues to be the institution’s backbone: Success in the face of adversity. EcoLogic Architect Thomas Rettenwender followed, touting the experience as a professional highlight he’ll cherish forever.
17-year-old student Julieta Mendoza-Alba, the sole female to spend a month in Orange County, was shy before this experience. After leading thousands of tours through the home and helping the team score second place for Marketing & Communication, she spoke eloquently, declaring, “We need more girls in construction!”
Bill Hayward leads a couple of guests on a tour of Nexus_01.
“The real reason we’re here is for these students,” instructor Ed Bennett said, emotion evident in his voice. “They’re the true heroes. When I came to the program, there was no direction. I set some rules and boundaries, and I don’t think they liked it. I’m pretty sure they didn’t like me for a while. We grew respect for each other, and now we like each other. We became a family.”
Thanks to the skills learned through the program and competition, many more opportunities will open up to these students.
For more information on the competition, visit ocsd23.com/team/rcca. For more information on Nexus_01, visit nexushousing.org.
