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.
