RVCC welding students working to repair Habitat for Humanity truck through service learning project
BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — Welding students at Raritan Valley Community College’s Workforce Training Center are using their skills to give back to the community while gaining real-world experience through a service learning project that benefits Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity.
Under the guidance of an instructor, students from two RVCC classes and one class from Bound Brook High School are repairing the lift on Habitat for Humanity’s donation truck. The nonprofit organization “helps families build and improve places to call home,” according to information from the group.
The students are participating in the initiative through the Pray Family Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement at RVCC. The project, which is expected to be completed by December, aligns with the college’s mission to provide career-ready training while encouraging civic engagement.
“This project is an exceptional opportunity for our students to see the real-world application of their skills,” said Ariel Curet, lead instructor for Advanced Manufacturing/Welding. “By participating in the service learning project, they will not only develop their welding proficiency, but also learn the value of giving back to their community.”
The project gives students practical experience applying welding techniques while performing necessary repairs on the donation truck, which is used to collect materials for the ReStore in Manville.
“The donation truck is essential to our daily operations at the ReStore,” said Mariusz Siwiec, assistant manager at the Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore. “This partnership with RVCC ensures that we can continue to collect donations safely and efficiently, supporting our mission to help more families achieve affordable homeownership.”
RVCC’s nationally recognized Service Learning Program, part of the Pray Family Center, enables students to incorporate community service into academic coursework and earn credit for the experience. Each year, RVCC students contribute service to more than 250 community organizations in Somerset and Hunterdon counties, representing the economic equivalent of over $1 million in volunteer work.
Over the past five years, students have provided more than $5 million in service value to the community, helping the college earn national recognition for its commitment to civic engagement.
From nonprofits to public agencies, RVCC students support organizations such as schools, food pantries, environmental centers, shelters, and municipal offices, learning about key community issues while helping others—without financial cost to the organizations they serve.
