A group of 10 fire science high school students chipped in and did a good deed for one of their teachers.
The boys from Mingus Union and Camp Verde high schools gathered and stacked firewood for Camp Verde’s shop teacher, Jeff Neugebauer, who recently developed a health condition that didn’t allow him to do the job himself. So the students, along with one of their fire science instructors, Steve Darby, took care of it for him.
“It’s part of fire science to do community service. The boys thought this was a great idea. Many of them take Mr. Neugebauer’s class,” Darby said. “They’re a good group of kids. They’re going to do well when they’re out of high school and in fire service.”
The Camp Verde students collected a cord of wood and took in to Neugebauer’s Clarkdale home, where the Mingus students joined them.
A wood stove is Neugebauer’s source of heat in his home for the winter.
“We put the wood in a trailer and all of us unloaded and stacked it for Mr. Neugebauer. Now it’s done and he doesn’t have to worry about it,” said Ryan Dufresen, a senior at Camp Verde High School. “I know him pretty well. He’s been my teacher for four years, so it felt really good helping him.”
Dufresen said it also gave the fire science class a chance to do something together as an academy and perform an act of community service.
Norbert Mesa said although he and his fellow Mingus students didn’t have Neugebauer as a teacher, they still thought it was a great idea and were more than happy to help with the project.
For the full story, see the Wednesday, Nov. 28, edition of The Camp Verde Journal or the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
