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Tri-Star students along with instructor Brett McGilvery install the Cornerstone Chapel steeple at the fairgrounds.
CELINA - While most Grand Lake area students reported to homeroom on Monday morning, juniors from the Tri-Star Career Compact construction course were busy installing the steeple of the Cornerstone Chapel at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
The 19 juniors are working on the chapel as part of their school year project.
The nondenominational chapel is designed to host services, religious concerts, retreats and celebrations and to pay homage to the county's rich tradition of faith.
"(We were) wanting to have a place more dedicated for the churches to go during the week of fair and have them be able to have a more active role in what's going on out there at the fairgrounds and having a place to call their own," fair manager Cara Muhlenkamp had said.
The project is a joint collaboration between volunteers, churches and the fair board.
Muhlenkamp also envisions the chapel being used for church services, weddings, vacation Bible school or even a place to just reflect and meditate. She had said the group aspires to strengthen the county's spiritual foundation and enhance collaboration among all local churches and the community.
The project is estimated at $190,000, with about $110,000 raised so far, Muhlenkamp said.
Nineteen area juniors from the Tri-Star construction course are building the Cornerstone Chapel at the fairgrounds.
St. John Builders, a house building and maintenance ministry based at St. John Lutheran Church of Celina, are also assisting with construction.
Earlier this month, Muhlenkamp, students and St. John Builders were joined by area pastors and priests, who blessed the site.
Muhlenkamp told commissioners last week that the blessing was a very emotional experience.
"Just to see that group of individuals come together (was emotional)," she said. "I try to go every two to three months to the ministerial group and build that relationship. They are just so excited to have a permanent place that is not just the week of the fair, but so much more."
She added that locals who often walk the fairgrounds are also pleased to be getting a fair-based chapel.
"It's a quiet area," she said. "It's going to be used. The pastors and priests were all talking, 'Oh, we could do this,' and 'We could do that.' The hum that was going on was really neat."
The Tri-Star construction students are taught by Brett McGillvary and assistant instructor Brian Stetler.
Students working on the project are from Celina, Coldwater, Fort Recovery, Marion Local, New Bremen, New Knoxville, St. Henry and St. Marys schools.
Anyone interested in donating can call the fair office at 419-586-3239.
