Woodworking students craft award-winning projects

FINAL TOUCHES—Freshman Olivia Milano blows off dust from sanding the salad bowl she is making during an advanced woodworking class May 28 at Royal High School in Simi Valley. Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

The Simi Valley Unified School District honored its student woodworking stars at a May 22 awards banquet at Royal High School.

Attending the second annual woodworking awards recognition were students from three schools in the Simi Valley district that have woodshop programs— Royal High School, Sinaloa Middle School and Simi High.

Each school elected 10 students from their woodworking programs who merited recognition for the outstanding work they had done during the 2024-25 school year.

The wood students started the school year learning how to use professional grade power tools safely, and progressed to the point where they were able to create beautiful works of art using the tools on the medium of wood.• From Royal High School, the students honored are: Marissa Phipps, Leanna Karayan, Stanley Grieb, Jacqueline Martinez, Stevie McGrath, Alberto Villa, Fernanda Garcia, Linda Guzman, Allison Kinney, Ryder Worke and Olivia Milano.•From Simi Valley High School, the student honorees are: Grigor Zakaryan, Daniel Helm, Daisey Flood, Dylan Ro- bles, Hailey Lion, Kevin Gonzalez, Jodi Helm, Joshua Brand, Harley Rios and Amy Velez.•From Sinaloa Middle School: Hudson Hughes, Andrew Murphy, Andrew Chacon, Olivia Thompson, Nate Fucich and Nathaniel Urczyk.

—Acorn staff report

Students in the class use a lathe to smooth out their bowls.

A GOOD SKILL TO HAVE—The Simi Valley Unified School District honor the advanced woodworking students with awards. Courtesy photo

PRECISION WORK— Teacher David Sorenson helps freshman Allison Kenny use the lathe.

A set of engraved salad utensils accompany one of the completed bowls by one of the woodworking students.