Students, community prepare for ‘Extreme Makeover’ unveiling

Holt — The atmosphere at the Nickless residence has changed from a construction site to a pep rally, as workers begin the final preparations for the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” unveiling at 1 p.m. Friday.

Students from MSU were still present at the site Thursday afternoon, but, instead of wearing hard hats, they were serving food. Students from Kellogg Center’s State Room were serving dinner to volunteers and other workers on the site.

Sarah Szczublewski, a criminal justice sophomore, and Tricia Phelps, a hospitality business sophomore, were some of the State Room employees at the site and were more than happy to be thanking the workers.

“I think it’s really cool of the Michigan State community to come here and help out, even though it’s a neighboring community,” Phelps said. “Coming to help someone else in need … even if it necessarily doesn’t have to do with us, we’re all coming here to help out anyways.”

Mayberry Homes owner Karen Schroeder praised the MSU students who helped out on the construction of the home. Students played a big role in helping to get the house complete ahead of schedule, Schroeder said.

“They’ve been incredible,” Schroeder said. “They did the landscape design, they have done the electrical engineering in some of the areas — they have been fabulous to work with.”

Roger Conley, the grandfather of the Nickless family, said he couldn’t describe what it was like seeing a new house on the spot.

“It’s on one page and then you turn the page and now there’s something else there,” Conley said. “It’s just a beautiful home … words don’t come for a description.”

An emotional Conley said he couldn’t wait for the unveiling of the home to the vacationing Nickless family, who are currently in Orlando, Fla. He also thanked the community for their reception of the project, saying it was overwhelming.

“I’m at a loss for words really,” Conley said. “We’ve been well blessed.”