Creativity and compassion took center stage on Saturday, Mar. 8, as fifth-grade students from across the Delaware Valley gathered at Stetson Middle School in West Chester for Habitat for Humanity of Chester County’s 22nd annual Build a House… Build a Dream contest.
Designed to spark imagination while fostering awareness about affordable housing, the beloved event brought together 134 registered students and resulted in 94 unique, hand-crafted model homes.
This free contest, open to all fifth-grade students in public, private, charter, and home schools, challenges participants to design and build a three-dimensional model of their “dream house,” complete with a written description and a short presentation to a panel of volunteer judges. Entries are scored based on originality, use of materials, visual design, and independent effort — highlighting not just the final product, but the young builders’ passion and vision.
The 2025 contest was a remarkable display of ingenuity and heart. First prize was awarded to Agastya Mudigonda and Kevin Ma for their exceptional design and presentation. Second place went to Sanvi Patel, and third place to Jason Kreyling and Dhanvine Vijayabhaskaj, who were also honored with the Saint-Gobain Sustainability Award for incorporating environmentally friendly concepts. The Fan Favorite Award, voted on by attendees, was given to Simon Simonsen and Avyan Pai.
The event wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of sponsors, volunteers, and especially the judges, who dedicated their time and expertise to celebrate these young minds. Their commitment made the event more than just a contest but rather a community celebration of youth potential and housing advocacy.
While the models may be miniature, the message behind them is powerful. Build a House… Build a Dream is more than a fun contest; it’s a chance to engage students with the real-life issue of affordable housing and inspire them to envision a future where everyone has a safe, decent place to live.
Through events like this, Habitat for Humanity of Chester County continues its mission of building homes, hope, and community.
Learn more at HFHCC.
