Recently, Hoover High School’s construction class built a new mobile ticket booth and a chair for Officer Ataya in the cafeteria. These additions will make tickets easier to purchase at athletic events, and give Officer Ataya a clearer view of the cafeteria during lunch periods.

Mr. Ashton McKelley, Hoover High School’s construction teacher, described the process for making the mobile ticket booth.

“The process started with students drafting their own blueprints from scratch,” he said. “Once they began building, they discovered that several dimensions needed to be adjusted to properly fit the specific doors and windows we had purchased. This required them to revisit their plans, revise measurements and think critically about how structural changes would impact the final build.”

With this mobile ticket booth comes a whole new experience for fans at future athletic events. McKelley spoke on this.

“The mobile ticket booth will streamline the check-in and ticketing process for fans,” he said. “Its layout makes it easier for workers to organize materials, a place for our ticket takers to stay out of inclement weather and operate efficiently which will help lines move quicker.”

With any project comes a few problems and challenges. McKelley described a problem with the mobile ticket booth and how students learned from it.

“A major challenge during the ticket booth build was realizing that the initial blueprint dimensions didn’t perfectly match the actual size of the doors and windows,” he said. “Students had to modify their plans, remeasure and adjust structural framing accordingly. This taught them the importance of precision and adaptability.”

McKelley discussed how Officer Ataya’s chair was made, and how the construction students worked with Ataya.

“The process was even more personalized,” he said. “Students fully designed it themselves and worked closely with Officer Ataya to make sure the chair met his needs. They took detailed measurements, looked at how his duty belt affected his seating position and added custom bracing so his feet would be supported comfortably.”

Officer Ataya, Hoover High School’s Student Resources Officer, described what prompted the idea for his new chair.

“I have a lot of kids that like to come up and sit next to me and a lot of staff members that are over there too,” he said. “So originally, I wanted a bench. And then as they were talking about it, they put in the new cooler that isn’t active yet. And I was like, I need a big chair now, so I can see the whole room. So I said, ‘I want to see the whole lunch room when I’m sitting in there.’”

Officer Ataya discussed his reaction to seeing the completed chair.

“I absolutely love it,” he said. “My face lit up, it was like opening a Christmas present as a kid. It’s a lot wider and more comfortable, and it has armrests.”

Ataya spoke about the new atmosphere and sense of safety in the cafeteria with his new chair.

“Kids know they can be seen,” he said. “I can literally see them from anywhere right now, so I think it does help with safety. They’re less likely to even throw food across the table anymore because I can just scan my head and I see them.”

The construction program strives to give students real-world experience that will help them in the long run. McKelley described how these projects helped the students learn and grow.

“These projects gave students hands-on, real-world experience that mirrors what they’ll encounter in professional construction settings,” he said. “They learned how to create and revise blueprints, communicate with a client and adjust their work based on feedback and real constraints.”

In 2025, schools will often rely on purchasing commercial products rather than custom-built solutions like the ticket booth and the chair. McKelley discussed the benefits of custom-built solutions.

“When projects are built by students, the school invests in learning rather than outside vendors. Students gain valuable experience, the school gains high-quality custom products and the entire community benefits from the pride and ownership that comes with student-built work.”

With new projects, comes new benefits. McKelley spoke on the long term benefits of the ticket booth and chair.

“Long term, these projects build confidence, technical skill and a strong foundation for students who want to pursue trades or technical careers,” he said. “The school benefits from durable, functional structures built in-house, saving money and enhancing campus operations. These builds also strengthen community pride, as students get to leave a lasting contribution that will be used for years to come.”