Michael Verville

With over a decade of experience in construction, Michael began to work with a restoration contractor and wanted to expand his skills sets in preservation. His mentor was retiring and Michael wanted to prepare to continue his work in cemetery grave marker restoration.

Thanks to the Christopher Robinson Scholarship, Michael was attend the 2019 Summer School with Summer School with Historic Environment Scotland at the Engine Shed in Stirling. He spent the first week of June attending lectures, workshops, and site visits, and met students, professionals, and Scottish citizens who are interested in, and actively working toward, the conservation of traditional buildings. This was an amazing opportunity for Michael to see how historic preservation is practiced in Scotland and how he can translate it to his own work with historic cemeteries and buildings in North Carolina.

My inclusion in the Summer School at the Engine Shed will have a lasting impact on my work in historic cemeteries, on historic buildings, and in my community, and without a scholarship from the Preservation Trade Network I would not have been able to participate.

Read his full report here.

Bryce Hollingsworth

A member of the Stone Trust and Level 1 certified with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, Bryce applied to work with a Master Craftsman in a short-term dry stone apprenticeship. He wanted to improve his drywalling skills to apply to his work in the United States with the goal to pass the Level 4 certification test to become a Master Craftsman himself.

Bryce worked with Fergus Packman in Ireland on restoring dry stone walls. He removed vegetation, repaired foundation stones, and rebuilding collapsed sections. Third-generation stonemason Jay Barcoe joined them for parts of the project as well. Bryce gained valuable time, knowledge and skills from these master craftsman that will help him achieve his career goals.

I am extremely proud that my work is part of a project like that, one that is built on the collaboration of craftsmen from all over the world. That wall will be standing long after I’m gone, and that brings me such great joy. My experience in Ireland was unparalleled; easily one of the best times of my life. I have since returned home, not only as a better waller, but as a better problem solver. Fergus taught me a new way to work with stone, yes, but more importantly, he taught me how to think differently.

Read his full report here.

Sarah Aly

Inspired by a volunteer experience with HistoriCorps where she got to help repair the redwood shake rooves on historic cabins, Sarah pursued a degree with Belmont Community College's Historic Building Preservation and Restoration program. She made the Dean's list and attended the 2018 IPTW in Detroit as a student volunteer.

Sarah was one of the first recipients of the Christopher Robinson scholarship and used it to participate in Historic Environment Scotland's summer school at the Engine Shed.

Ann Sorensen

Running her own business restoring log structures while preparing to write her graduate thesis on integrating craft training skills into apprenticeship programs, Ann applied to attend the Prince Foundation's Summer School Program. She had already been accepted to the program and the scholarship helped fund her ability to attend.

The three-week program allowed Ann to experience and learn many facets of architectural heritage. The first week focused on sketching, geometry, and architectural history. Week Two, Craft Week, had participants gets hands-on experience with experts in roof thatching, lime plasters, pargeting, stone masonry, and timber framing. The last week, Design Week, participants worked in teams to design a structure that would be built by the Foundation's craft apprentices. Ann's team came in second place.

"It was very motivating to see the craft skills learned during the week connected to a real world application."

Read Ann's full report here.