The 48th High School House is officially completed and up for sale! Students from C.M. Russell and Great Falls High broke ground in September and have been working together to build this single-family home from the ground up. TV personality Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs visited the under-construction home in November and saw firsthand the impact of the High School House on both the students and the community. Governor Gianforte joined for the tour, and later there was a short panel discussion which included Gianforte, Rowe, High School House Instructor Pete Pace, and a former student builder who now works in the trades. During this panel, they discussed the current state of the industry and the importance of career exploration opportunities for the trades. It was also during this discussion that Wells Fargo announced a generous $200,000 donation for the High School House program.
“Empowering students with real-world skills is one of the most impactful ways we can invest in our community’s future,” said Sherrie Arey, executive director of NeighborWorks Great Falls. “The High School House program does more than build homes—it builds confidence and a pathway to careers in the trades. We are grateful for partners like Wells Fargo, the Home Builders Association, and Great Falls Public Schools for investing in our community and supporting the next generation of skilled builders.”
Then, in December, Governor Gianforte visited the home again with exciting news— he donated a quarter of his annual salary to the High School House program. Just a few days later a rock concert, spearheaded by the Home Builders Association of Great Falls, took place. This concert, known as “Rock the Trades,” was held to benefit the High School House.
“I’ll go into the trades after taking this class and become an electrician,” said Bryce, a student builder. “Even if you’re not going into the trades this is a good life skill to learn. I’m very proud of myself, and it’s been a lot of fun meeting Mike Rowe and the Governor.”
NeighborWorks Great Falls and Great Falls Public Schools have partnered on this project since 1997 with the first home being completed in 1998. NeighborWorks supplies the lot, arranges subcontractors, and finances the construction while also working with potential homebuyers to get them ready for homeownership. In return, the students provide the labor while gaining valuable skills in a real-world setting, helping set them up for a career in the trades.
“Watching our students break ground on this home is more than just a construction project—it’s a life-changing experience,” said High School House instructor Pete Pace. “They’re not only learning how to frame walls and wire a house, but also how to work as a team, solve problems, and take pride in creating something real and lasting. These are skills they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives, no matter where their career paths lead.”
“My favorite part has been the framing and roofing,” said Harper, a student builder. “It was all outdoors and really hands-on. We all had something to do and it was super fast paced. It’s really important to get in and get involved, get out of the classroom and be hands-on.”
To learn more about the High School House program, visit https://nwgf.org/high-school-house/