As the years go on, high school students from Elizabethton and Carter County continue to flex their muscle in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs.

One year removed from participating in solar go kart races at Bristol Motor Speedway, STEM students from Elizabethton, Unaka, Cloudland, Hampton and Happy Valley will strut their stuff during the inaugural Battle of the Build competition for the annual Johnson City Area Home Builders Association Home and Garden Show inside the East Tennessee State University Mini-Dome. The event, sponsored by Go Build Tennessee, is allowing six area high schools to present their projects throughout the weekend to showcase what they’ve learned in the engineering classes, along with taking in silent bids for their projects.

Elizabethton High School’s submission is a modular living room set which each piece of furniture being created from flat pieces, allowing for an easy disassembly or transportation.

One of the concepts about the furniture is that it can be assembled without any hardware.

“The concept is that you don’t need any tools, fasteners or screws,” said teacher David Campbell in a release issued to the Elizabethton Star. “The only thing that holds the furniture together is the interlocking wood, and it’s very sturdy.”

Nestor Grubb, senior from EHS, manned the fort Friday evening of the Cyclone display and added the experience was one to remember for he and the rest of his classmates.

Across from EHS is another team with local flare.

The Carter County team, comprised of students from each of the local schools, joined together for their project – a chicken coop.

It was a team effort, according to Hampton High School instructor Daniel Arnett. HHS students helped come up with the design and presentations while Cloudland created the trailer for the project. Happy Valley handled the electricity and plumbing while Unaka handled the cosmetic work of the building, including painting, sanding and other needed improvements.

James Monroe, HVHS teacher, added it was a delight to see the students working together on the project. Friday, Cody Vines, Zack Oliver and Trevor Ellor were on site to help with the final pieces of work needed to the project.

Arnett also took time to thank each business that assisted with the project including Lowe’s of Elizabethton. Cloudland and Unaka teachers Sam Potter and Scotty Johnson helped lead their crews on different projects as well.

Over the weekend, individuals will be able to vote for their favorite project from the area schools.

Battle of the Build will take place Saturday with the award winners to be announced on Sunday. An update from the event will be featured in a future edition of the Elizabethton Star.