DRUMS, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A vibrant, holiday light show is open to the community in Luzerne County, but unlike many other displays, this one is put on by local students.
Taking this design of a bow and bringing it to life, all with the use of lights.
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“You have to put in all the right measurements for it to make sure it cuts it out the same size as the lights when we pop them in,” said Kaitlyn Puzzetti, senior, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
These cut out pieces are just a mere glimpse into the massive light show display that students from the Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences build at the Sugarloaf Golf Club every year.
“We start in September and it’s part of our management information systems class and we work all the way through, well some props are still being made right now,” John Berta, computer science/robotics teacher, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
Around 40,000 LED pixel lights are used for the entire show.
“I think the community loves it. They’re really behind the kids and they support the partnership and it seems to be something that’s been really well received,” said Patrick Knelly, general manager, Sugarloaf Golf Club.
To put it in perspective, one of the stars they made has 459 LED lights in them.
“It is really cool seeing the finished thing and being a part of it, I mean we all have so much fun,” said Calvin Miller, senior, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
Fun that is also hard work.
“I have been putting together hundreds and hundreds of wires. I’ve been spending weeks on it, I’ve been spending time after school because none of this could happen if the wires aren’t connected,” said Ryan Brislin, senior, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
In its third year, the students added talking props with voice actors to the design.
“Once we got to the golf course to actually install the props and stuff and we saw it working, we were just like, our minds were blown! We were so excited,” said Ashanty Casado, senior, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
Working on their smaller classroom display, the students gain skills to be used later down the road.
“This is good real world experience for me and I feel like it will be helpful to me in the future,” said Jace Mumie, senior, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
But for now, they’re bringing smiles to those enjoying the light dancing around in the holiday season.
“We have so many kids in this class that have worked and done their part, so when you go and see the lights on and hear people talking about how happy it makes them, it’s really cool because I spent all that work to make these people happy,” said Christian Craig, senior, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences.
The student’s light display at Sugarloaf Golf Club will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday December 19 through Monday December 23.
