TUPELO – Studying political science doesn’t really prepare one for building houses, but Wednesday, Mina Jeong was swinging her hammer and nailing up siding like a pro.

“My studies are very abstract. This is very practical,” said the exchange student from Seoul, South Korea.

All around her, Jeong’s fellow students from Western Kentucky University moved like ants, painting, measuring and hammering, putting the finishing touches on the west Tupelo home for Habitat for Humanity.

The students had come to spend their spring break building houses for the needy.

The house’s 1,350-square-foot frame was assembled in January by Georgia-based nonprofit Square Foot Ministry, and was on display at the Tupelo Furniture Market.

Once it arrived at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and Forrest Street about a month ago, Habitat contractors put on the roof, then a crew of students from Concordia University in Canada worked on it for a week.

By Wednesday, everyone and everything seemed to be caked in brown mud, but there was still smiling and good-natured kidding.

“Now that’s a fine siding job,” said Bob Smith, as his wife, Janine, spread out banana nut bread and lemonade for the students.

The Lee County office isn’t taking any more applications for homes right now, but the waiting list has 13 names, and five building projects are under way.

One of those houses, in Belden, will go to Teresa Baker and her four kids. Wednesday she was painting and nailing right alongside the students, putting in a few more hours of “sweat equity” to help reimburse Habitat for her home.

During a break in the work, WKU team leader April August enjoyed a snack and gave Baker a hug.

“This is the most rewarding part,” said August. “The smiles on people’s faces, and working alongside them to make a difference.”

Contact Galen Holley at (662) 678-1510 or galen.holley@djournal.com.