When it comes to choosing classes, students are met with seemingly infinite choices. The school offers a wide range of courses that cater towards student’s different interests, many of them not offered at other high schools. However, some stand out among the rest. Here’s a look into some of the most unique electives offered at LFHS. 

CAD Engineering/ Architecture

CAD stands for computer-aided design and all students who take CAD Engineering or Architecture use technology to enhance their learning wether by constructing buildings or 3D printing.

Architecture is good for students who are more creative and have more of an interest in design, whereas engineering is geared towards people who might want to go into that field and get the opportunity to deal with parts. 

Architecture teacher Mr. Darren Barndt enjoys having students be able to explore a passion and develop unique projects. 

“I like seeing what the creative designs [students] come up with out of their own daily lives,” Barndt said. “These are things I would never come up with.”

Home Improvement and Design

Being handy is a good skill to have, especially if you are moving out for college or living on your own. The home improvement and design class focuses on practical house renovations like plumbing, simple electrical work and framing. 

In class, Mr. Bill Sommel creates a hands-on atmosphere where students not only learn these skills, but also get to work on functional projects to practice their technique. 

Some of the projects include setting up an entire electrical system and blowing torching copper pipes together to make a functioning plumbing system. 

The main purpose of the class is to teach students how to do small jobs without hiring a professional in order to save money and be more resourceful.

Sommel mentioned he likes “seeing people gain skills they thought were unattainable.”

Guitar Making and Technique

If you’re looking for an elective with a clear outcome, guitar making and technique may be for you. Even if you have no experience with music or instruments, this class is very fun and unlike any other in your typical school day. Plus, few people are able to say they built their own guitar. 

Mr. Joe Dudeck teaches students how to make their own bass or electric guitar. Students use kits to assemble and stain their instrument, wire and solder it, engrave it and personalize it in any other way. Students are also provided with an acoustic guitar to learn how to play it long the way. 

The process takes nearly a full semester, with a few weeks left over to fine-tune and perfect the final result. Each guitar is unique and reflects the work of the person who made it. 

Robotics

Even if you have no experience with programming, robotics is a valuable class to take. Robotics 1 starts off with an intro to the subject and creates a foundation for students to use in the other class levels. In Robotics 2, there are 4 different projects for students to do including a color sorting robot, and a ping pong playing bot. In levels 3 and 4, students get to be more independent and even create an underwater submarine. Two semesters of robotics can even equal a full physics credit. 

“No other school I know of even offers a full year of robotics, much less four years, so it looks really good for students going into STEM,” Mr. Joe Dudeck said.