What began as a student idea has become a powerful symbol of resilience and community care. This spring, Warren Wilson College students completed construction on a fully functional tiny home—built by students for a family displaced by Hurricane Helene. The project is a vivid example of Warren Wilson’s education in action, where academics, work, and community engagement come together to equip students with the skills—and heart—to make a tangible difference in the world around them.

Sophomore Maeve Williams, an Environmental Studies major and student leader on the College’s Construction Crew, first proposed the project in September 2024 as a way to train new student workers through real, hands-on experience. But everything changed when the hurricane hit that fall, devastating parts of the Swannanoa Valley and displacing local residents

Maeve was one of ten students who remained on campus during the storm as part of the College’s skeleton crew, supporting Facilities staff and helping keep essential systems running. The experience, they say, brought a new sense of purpose.

“Staying through the hurricane gave me a whole new appreciation for the power of community,” Maeve said. “Even in the middle of the crisis, people showed up for each other. I saw how vital the behind-the-scenes work was. And I realized I wanted to harness that energy—the sense of shared responsibility and resilience—and channel it into something lasting.”

That vision became a mission: turn the training project into a real home for someone in need.

With the support of Facilities staff, students began outreach in February 2025—writing letters, making calls, and building partnerships. In just two months, the project gained thousands of dollars in donated materials and drew support from local nonprofits and green building professionals. Students led every aspect, from design and fundraising to construction and community engagement.

BeLoved Asheville, a nonprofit known for its work on housing justice, served as a central community partner in the project. Together, they helped ensure that the house would go to a family truly in need of shelter, safety, and a fresh start.

The home features high-efficiency EcoPanels, solar infrastructure from Sugar Hollow Solar and Footprint Project, and a microgrid-ready design. The project offered hands-on experience not only in trades and technical work but also in teamwork, fundraising, and project management.

Dozens of regional businesses donated time, materials, or expertise to bring the project to life. A special thank you to Tom and Nancy Maher of the Pisgah Investments Foundation, whose lead gift funded the home in honor of Jeanne Cummings, a beloved community leader who passed away earlier this year. Other local partners include ABB, ABC Supply, Anchor Plumbing, Best Buy Metals, Briggs and Stratton, Carolina Cat, Carolina Custom Casework, Carolina Futons, Clayton Homes, Columbia Forest Products, Conservation Pros, Critical Services Microgrid Group, Curtis High Tec, Ecopanels, Emory, Ferguson Plumbing, Footprint Project, French Broad Flooring, Henson Building Materials, Home Depot, Kitchens Unlimited, McElrath Roofing, MSS Solutions, Rudy’s Furniture, Sugar Hollow Solar, Tucker Materials, Wholesale Glass, and Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church.

In just a few months, the team turned a recycled trailer into a fully equipped, livable home. “This house stands for so much more than shelter,” Maeve told the crowd at the dedication ceremony. “It stands for climate resilience. For community. For education that doesn’t just stay in the classroom.”

The tiny home stands as a testament to what student labor and student learning can achieve when guided by mentorship, creativity, and heart. It’s more than a shelter—it’s a message. “This house stands for so much more than shelter,” Maeve told the crowd at the Tiny Home’s dedication ceremony. “It stands for climate resilience. For community. For education that doesn’t just stay in the classroom. It proves something essential: that environmental education works best when it’s hands-on and human.”

For Maeve, who hopes to add a second major in Business, the project was also a deeply personal journey. “This process has given me the chance to apply my passions directly—to take on climate-resilient building, social equity, and experiential learning in a way that matters.”

The Construction Crew at Warren Wilson College is one of many student work crews on campus, part of the College’s distinctive work program that integrates hands-on work into the educational experience. Students on the crew typically work on building renovations, roofing, door repairs, and dorm maintenance. This tiny home project expanded their scope—and their sense of purpose.

Since its founding as the Asheville Farm School in 1894, Warren Wilson College has placed community engagement and experiential learning at the core of its educational model—hallmarks that continue to distinguish the College as a national leader in hands-on, action-oriented learning. This story is one of many that demonstrate the community-affirming and empowering impact of this approach to education. This story is one of many that demonstrate the community-affirming and empowering impact of this approach to education.

“Every dollar raised and nail hammered has been touched by people who care deeply about both the land we live on and the people who live here with us,” Maeve said. “I’m proud of what we built—and even more excited to see how it’s used to help someone move forward.”