A group of Mt. Hope students spent Monday at the Roger Williams University clay studio for their annual “throw-athon,” with the product of their labor to benefit a local nonprofit.

The throw-athon is dedicated to creating hand-built and wheel-thrown items. Working alongside Roger Williams University students and alumni from Mt. Hope, the high school students and volunteers made items such as bowls and dinnerware, which will then be sold at a later date. All the proceeds go to the Women’s Resource Center of Newport County.

“These guys are making as many dinnerware items as they can today,” said Kerri Sloat, who is both a teacher at Mt. Hope and a professor at Roger Williams.

For some, it was their first time doing this form of pottery, which involves using a pottery wheel and “throwing” the clay on it. Mt. Hope students were given the full day to work on it as a field day, allowing them to master their craft.

“At the high school, they get 15 minutes to clean up and go to their next class,” Sloat said. “Today’s ideal for them to learn how to practice skills.”

In addition to the clay pots made on the wheel, students also made other things, such as spoons and plates by hand. They also used molds to shape plates. The work is communal, according to Sloan. While one may shape or sculpt an item, another might work on the final designs.

She described it as very important to support the Women’s Resource Center, which, along with many non-profits, is in danger of losing grants.

Lillian Konz, a student from Mt. Hope, said she has been working with clay since her freshman year.

“You can experiment with a lot of things and different skills and find what you like,” Konz said. Konz also said she is happy that proceeds go to a good cause.

Some Mt. Hope alumni, such as Olivia Arruda, came back to help out as well. Arruda has done ceramics outside of the academic sector and just participated in the National Ceramic Conference in Utah this past week.

The event has been taking place for more than 20 years, on and off, according to Sloat. Some things have changed, as rising prices have led to them having to get grants to pay for the event, but it is still successful. Sloat says in the future, she would like to see community sponsors for the students to participate.