After two years from framing to finishing work, students in Murray High School’s construction program are preparing to unveil their latest project, a two-story home at 64 W. Woodrow St. The community is invited to tour the house during an open house from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.

Designed with modern features and efficiency, the 3,600-square-foot home, which sits on just under a quarter acre of land, includes three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a walkout basement with full 9-foot walls and a three-car garage equipped with an electric car plug-in.

Visitors can see the home’s highlights starting with walking into the home through 8-foot doors with 9-foot vaulted ceiling into a spacious great room with the kitchen featuring walnut cabinets and granite countertops. Off the great room is the master bedroom with a large window overlooking a finish grade yard, three-tone paint and a walk-in closet. The bathroom features a walk-in shower with three shower heads. Down the hall is a storage nook in the mudroom and laundry room leading to the garage.

The funds from the home’s sale, which has not had a price set as of press deadline, will fund the program’s next build on a bordering lot. 

The project, which began in fall 2024, has involved about 80 students the past two years. The first year primarily focused on exterior work such as framing, windows, exterior doors and more, said skilled and technology education teacher Quinn Drury. Year two included sheetrock, insulation, painting and trim work. Exterior concrete work spanned both years.

“It’s hands-on experience, which is invaluable for students,” he said. “Our kids are sought after. Several of them have been awarded the CTE (career and technical education) scholarships at SLCC (Salt Lake Community College).”

Drury said students in the program earn 20 hours of concurrent enrollment credit, a semester of college, while still in high school. With grades of a C or better, they’re eligible for the full-tuition scholarship.

“All 80 of our kids would be eligible for the scholarship if they want it,” Drury said, adding several students opt to study in construction management programs at Utah State University and Weber State University. “We have good, capable kids. They get in, they work hard and they’re excited to learn and to grow.”

Some of those same students have recently demonstrated their techniques in the recent Skills USA competitions in carpentry, cabinetry and job skills demonstration. At the state contest, senior Damion Day and junior Preston Marshall placed in the top five in carpentry and cabinetry, respectively, while seniors Alex Finken and Leland Marse were finalists in the job skill demonstration. Senior Wayne Mower won the job skill demonstration at the regionals in February and placed at state.

“These kids placed well under harsh circumstances as they didn’t have a shop to prep in and had online school for three weeks before the competition,” said Drury, referring to the school’s recent fire which resulted in school being taught online. “Still, they represented Murray High School really well.”

The latest home is not only a showcase of students’ skills, but also a legacy for Drury, who has been dedicated to building futures. He plans to retire at the end of the school year.

During his three-decade career, Drury has overseen the construction of about a dozen homes. He also has directed several community projects including three warming huts built for the 2002 Olympics, a home for the Other Side Village, a garage for Habitat for Humanity and the school’s snack shack and nail tech center. 

His students also have made wooden toys for Primary Children’s Hospital patients and Murray High’s childcare as well as created items to sell at Festival of Trees.

Drury decided to teach because “awesome teachers inspired me” from growing up to those at Snow College and Utah State University. He said he wants to make that same impact on his students. 

“Being able to help kids find success is the best part,” he said. “There is a lot of success to be made in the trades and these kids have a very promising future.”