"We keep something going," says Vanessa McLaurin, the teacher of a compensatory education class at the Laurel Hill Community Center.

This motto is something her class, sponsored by Richmond Community College, keeps to heart.

The group is constantly working on new projects to motivate and educate the students, who are documented mentally retarded or suffer from brain injuries.

"Our main goal is to help people become more independent." McLaurin said.

Most recently, the class dedicated its efforts to making a doghouse for the Scotland County animal shelter.

"The college has us set goals and one of those goals is to complete an independent project, We chose to do a project we call Habitat for Dogs."

She said the group got a pattern for the doghouse from the Scotland County Humane Society and the students followed the directions to makes the doghouse.

"This is only one of dozens of projects we have done," McLaurin said "This project calls for students to use skills they learned in our comp ed. class.[Projects like this] expose them to skills they'll need to get jobs," McLaurin said.

The students seemed to have enjoyed the exercise.

"This project is so good for us," said Jason Oxendine, one of McLaurin's 12 students.

"I like it – it gets me out of the house," Kay Lampley said. "I had a lot of fun building it."

They both enjoyed different parts.

For Oxendine, using the power drill to screw in the sides was full of excitement. Lampley's preference was for toting wood.

Both, however, felt they learned more about working together to accomplish tasks.

McLaurin said the progress students see in this class is real.

"Some have moved into their own apartments," McLaurin said. She counted three in the last year who were able to move out on their own.

McLaurin said that she helps these students with their budget and financing skills, as well as basic housekeeping.

"This compensatory education program promotes independence," McLaurin said.

"The students also have the opportunity to take many trips to the supermarket and post office."

"There is a computer lab set up at the center," McLaurin continued. "There is a PAES lab."

PAES – Practice Assessment Exploratory System – is a program that teaches students skills in four sections manipulatory, carpentry, clerical and home economics.

"Tasks range from making a no-bake cheesecake to wiring a doorbell," McLaurin said. There are 206 individual tasks to be learned in the PAES lab.

She said the class also enjoys fitness and leisure activities, such as tennis and walking around a track.

The classes efforts were appreciated by more than just the participants. The human society was thrilled with the new doghouse.

"It was really great that they did that," said Gay Terry, director of the Scotland County Human Society.

Terry said doghouses are in constant need by the shelter. The nonprofit doesn't hold on to these houses for its own use, however.

"What we try to do is pass [these doghouses] along to people who are about to lose their dog because they don't have adequate shelter," Terry said. "We've not had any for a couple of years because we can't afford it."

She said that people used to donate doghouses to the humane society, normally something the donor built self. She said that local Boy Scouts have built these doghouses in the past for badges.

Terry also noted that the class's project was "really colorful."