Mountain Ridge Students Will Build Custom Chair
A West Jordan school woodworking class is crafting a custom rocking chair for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Students and a teacher at Mountain Ridge High School are constructing a custom white oak and maple rocking chair for Sonia Sotomayor. The project is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving 2026.
Why it matters
The custom furniture request follows Sonia Sotomayor's visit to the Jordan School District in September 2026, where she admired an original version of the chair. She intends to display the final product outside her chambers in Washington, D.C.
The rocking chair is being built in the Mountain Ridge High School woodworking shop using a combination of white oak and maple. It is scheduled to be finished by Thanksgiving 2026.
The players
Sonia Sotomayor
She serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Steven Tanner
He is the builder responsible for creating the original patriotic rocking chair design.
Mountain Ridge High School
This is a secondary education institution located in the Jordan School District.
The details
Students are actively working on the custom piece, which draws inspiration from a patriotic rocking chair originally built by Steven Tanner two years ago. Once finished, the furniture will be shipped from West Jordan to Washington, D.C., for placement outside the justice's chambers.
Timeline
Steven Tanner built the original patriotic rocking chair two years ago.
Sonia Sotomayor visited the Jordan School District in September 2026.
The rocking chair is scheduled to be completed by Thanksgiving 2026.
Culture Shift
This project follows the established pattern of Supreme Court justices placing meaningful, hand-crafted gifts in their professional workspaces. It highlights a unique intersection between secondary vocational education and the formal environment of the high court.
Students at Mountain Ridge High School are gaining practical, hands-on experience by completing a high-profile woodworking commission. This project demonstrates the tangible professional capabilities of students within the local Jordan School District.
The takeaway
Engaging in specialized craft projects can provide students with unique opportunities to connect their technical skills to real-world applications. Such projects demonstrate how classroom learning can lead to contributions that are recognized on a national stage.
What happens next
The completed rocking chair is expected to be finalized and ready for shipment by Thanksgiving 2026.
Further reading
Discover more about local classroom initiatives in Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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