(Floyd Ingram / Buy at photos.chickasawjournal)
The Electricity Class at the Houston School of Science and Technology is shown with the downtown snowflake Christmas decorations they are refurbishing at the work bench at the school.
By Floyd Ingram
Chickasaw Journal
HOUSTON – In this season of love and light, a group of high school students are bringing a little of both on Houston.
The Electricity Class at the Houston School of Science and Technology is reworking more than 60 snowflakes that are a longtime Christmas tradition in this community.
“We’re proud to do it and we’re proud to say we have done what we could this year,” said Hayden Powell, a junior at Houston High School. “It’s a neat project. Everybody knows about the snowflakes in Houston.”
Houston Aldermen were told last winter new lights would cost about $250 each. The snowflakes are more than 20-years old and Christmas weather and age have taken their toll on the lights.
“We were approached by (Ward 1 Alderman) Tony Uhiren about this project,” said Electricity Class instructor Keith Reese. “We went to Walter Archer at A&A Electrical right here in Houston and he got us the wire and lights. This is all about Houston. We’re doing this as a community project.
The work will see the class completely rework 50 of the smaller snowflakes and 16 of the larger ones that are put in the trees on the Courthouse Square in Houston and on utility poles up and down Houston streets.
Sophomore J. D. Laster said the class first stripped the old lights and wire off the metal frames and then set about the work of refurbishing each snowflake.
“We’re putting new LED lights and new heavy duty wire on each one,” said Laster. “We then test each one to make sure they are working right.”
The LED lights are more energy efficient, durable and brighter than the old incandescent bulbs.
The class got started on the project this fall and have refurbished about 24 of the snowflakes this year.
“We did an engineering plan and determined what we wanted and what we needed,” said Jacquez Calvert, a sophomore at Houston High School. “I’d rather do this than read a text book. I like working with my hands.”
Hunter Dendy said the class learned polarity, how to read ridged wire, think about how the lights and wire will withstand sunshine, rain and cold. He said they have also learned to take pride in their work and doing a job well.
“We want these to last and have been quick to dog each other when someone slacks up,” said Dendy. “We’ve been told the wire is good for about five to seven years and the lights are good for about 250,000 hours.
“I hope the city will take care of them and the people who put them up and down will go easy on them,” said Dendy. “We’ve put a lot of work into each one of these.”
And the class said this project is their gift to Houston this Christmas.
“I like driving past those that have already been put up and knowing I did that,” said Powell. “It will be neat to come to Houston next year when they all go up and know I had a part of doing that.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation to buy materials for the snowflakes can contact the Houston School of Science and Technology at 456-3320, Keith Reese or Walter Archer at 456-3739.
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