Senior Daniel Kelble stands on the grass field and looks up into the glaring sun toward the rows of bleachers, but as he uses his hand to keep the sun out of his eyes, he sees what he was really looking for: the JC press box.

For Kelble’s Senior Project, he is helping design and build a new press box for the football and lacrosse field. According to Kelble, the current one has become old and rundown. Wrestling coach Keith Watson encouraged him to do something about it.

In addition, as Kelble is “trying to do engineering in college,” he felt the project would help him get some real life experience. He hopes the new press box will “help the next generation of football and lacrosse players.”

With the help of his father, who is an engineer, he started by working on the beginning of a design for the press box. His design currently includes two stairwells and three sections inside the press box.

Due to regulations on building structures, he had to send his original design to be perfected by a professional engineer. Once that was approved, he began the process of receiving a permit so that he could begin his work.

As far as paying for the project, Kelble did not have to worry.

“I am getting the money from the school. They originally said I have $10,000 to work with. I’m only costing them $4,000,” he said.

Kelble hopes to begin construction May 4, but he is still in need of volunteers. This is further complicated by the fact that volunteers must be over 18 years old in order to operate power tools.

According to Kelble, he hopes that “the structure will first off stand, and then fit the need of the football and lacrosse teams.”

Hope Kelly is a Managing Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.