At NBSS, you get a big picture perspective. You know what's supposed to happen before and after. Everybody should learn this way... I don't look at the world the same way now that I know how to build a house. That's priceless.
The biggest obstacle I faced before applying to NBSS was my own doubt. After I decided to go for it, everything fell into place... The Cabinet & Furniture Making program gave me the skills to make whatever I dream up. It was an excellent investment in my life and career.
There is no other place to get this type of training. If you want to set yourself apart, NBSS will give you more credibility and knowledge than you could get with 10 years in the field. It is the best money you will ever spend.
I couldn't be more happy with my choice to change careers and attend NBSS. Before enrolling the Jewelry program, I didn't feel tangibly engaged in my work. And now I make things of lasting value and beauty. I feel pride in and enthusiasm for my work, and I do it with integrity.
It goes without saying that without the great people I met and the help and guidance I received along the way, none of this could have happened. NBSS is an integral part in my story. The time there taught me that if I do something well, the rest will fall into place.
I couldn't say enough positive things about the School and the Locksmithing program. It's allowed me to live in a beautiful place, have control of my work schedule and find a healthier balance in my life. NBSS gave me the skills I needed to begin a new career.
The newest issue of Benchmarks magazine is out now! Our yearly publication features stories and news from the School, and this issue includes a photo essay of the Portrait Project; a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion update; highlights from In the Making; and much more.
Despite the pandemic, North Bennet Street School (NBSS) Retail & Exhibit Manager Kristen Odle couldn't stand to cancel the Annual Celebration of Craft: Student & Alumni Exhibit, a favorite tradition in which students and alumni display and sell their strongest work from the past year. Instead, she ambitiously reshaped the exhibition into a series of unique studio portraits of NBSS students, staff, and faculty. View the stunning project here.
We are pleased to announce that Philip Lowe, a graduate of the 1974 Cabinet & Furniture Making program, is the recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award. Though he passed away earlier this year, our community wanted to honor his many years of teaching and mentorship. Phil's legacy is second to none, and his impact includes not only the fine work he produced over 50+ years, but also the generations of woodworkers who he guided in the craft.
The past year has given the NBSS community time to reflect on who we are as a School and who we aspire to be. We continue to be motivated by the collective enthusiasm and urgency to evolve the School at all levels, and renew our work to become more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. Over the course of the past year, we developed our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Vision Statement to set a point on the horizon for our future efforts. Read the statement here and an update from our Faculty-Staff DEI Committee.
Finishing the requirements for graduation at NBSS takes hard work, commitment, and dedication at the best of times. The students in our 2021 graduating class completed their intensive programs during an extremely tumultuous year, staying the course through a building closure, remote learning, and extended in-person instruction. Simply stated, we couldn't be more proud of all that these graduates accomplished. On June 4, we celebrated our newest alumni during a live-streamed ceremony at Old North Church.
