Above: HDA Summer Intern Austin Stacy (at left) is guided in marking & cutting techniques by HDA carpenter Jason Fultz, with HDA carpenter Zack Stephens also assisting.
Local Youth Excel in Summer Internship
Three Perry County students gain career skills while building and repairing homes for those in need
HAZARD, Ky. (August 5, 2025) – The summer months are typically a time to take a break and relax, but for these three Eastern Kentucky young people, it was a time to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
This week, Housing Development Alliance, Inc. (HDA), a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Hazard, celebrates the outstanding achievements of three young men who completed its eight-week, paid summer internship in construction.
The Sam Smith Memorial Summer Internship, which is named in memory of the late Sam Smith, a former HDA summer intern who was hired on as a full-time carpenter, offers paid training in the construction trade for 18 to 21-year-olds.
Throughout June and July, Austin Stacy, Wyatt Minks, and Parker Mayhew worked side by side with HDA’s skilled carpenters to build new affordable homes and rehabilitate the homes of low-income families and those affected by the 2022 and/or 2025 floods.
“Watching these young men grow from day one has been nothing short of inspiring,” said HDA’s Shannon Gabbard, the director of Hope Building and coordinator of the internship. “They’ve learned everything from framing exterior walls to installing energy-efficient windows, and they’ve done so with pride, professionalism, and a deep commitment to their community.”
During the internship, Stacy and Minks worked on new home framing crews, while Mayhew joined a crew completing home repairs and rehabs. Throughout the summer, Stacy and Minks each assisted in the completion of two new home builds at Chestnut Ridge, one of the state’s high-ground communities, delivering safe, energy-efficient housing to flood-impacted families in need. Mayhew helped his crew members complete five major repairs, including roof replacements, structural reinforcements, and ramp construction.
All interns logged more than 300 hours of on-site training in floor plan reading, materials management, tool safety, and basic carpentry.
Minks, who hopes to one day run his own construction company, said the experience has been truly rewarding.
Stacy and Mayhew echoed that sentiment.
“These carpenters know so much, and they’ve been willing to teach me all that they know,” said Stacy. “I finished up construction technology courses at the community college, and I think it was a good thing to follow that up with this internship. The job site training really helps supplement the coursework.”
“These guys have helped me out and taught me a lot. I didn’t know anything (about carpentry) coming into the internship,” Mayhew said. “I’ve always been interested in construction, so this internship gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the door a little bit and try to get started.”
Mayhew added, “It’s an opportunity to help people with your hands and not rely on computers and things like that.”
HDA plans to offer its internship again next summer, offering paid positions to three youths and deepening partnerships with local schools and workforce programs. By equipping young people with in-demand construction skills, HDA not only boosts local employment prospects but also accelerates its mission to transform lives through affordable housing and build a brighter future for the community.
HDA’s Sam Smith Memorial Summer Internship is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from the Berea College Appalachian Fund.
