He didn’t live to see it finished, but Paul Payne would have been very proud of his students’ efforts Wednesday when Northshore High School students, faculty, family and friends dedicated the new Paul Payne Agriscience Building.

A crowd of people gathered inside the large building to look at the large blue fish tanks, aquariums and new woodworking shop, all the vision of Payne, who had spent 25 years at the high school teaching students horticulture, agriculture, woodworking and construction. When Payne died in February of this year, the building was still under construction and had been his pet project.

“He did whatever it took to provide for his students, and this building is a fine example of that,” St. Tammany School Board Deputy Superintendent Trey Folse said at the dedication ceremony. “He knew what he wanted, and he usually got it.”

Northshore High School seniors Shelby Artheron, left and Brittany Kendrick look over one of the aquaculture tanks they helped build for the new Paul Payne Aquaculture Building at the school. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

Peter Canizzaro, who took over Payne’s teaching position, said the new building will teach students about raising fish. Swimming in the large tanks of water were catfish, koi, perch and bass. Next to the building is a greenhouse with flowers and plants all raised by Payne’s students. There is also a woodworking shop where students learned how to build such things as the trash receptacles that dot the streets of Slidell.

The best part about the building is that the students themselves helped design the interior and built the tanks and aquariums.

They were trained on computer-assisted drawing software and learned about construction and architecture.

“The agriculture students did all the work,” Canizzaro said proudly.

And that was what Payne was trying to instill in his students, according to friend and St. Tammany School Board member John Lamarque.

“He wanted a place where students could learn all sorts of skills that were useful,” said Lamarque. “He believed in hands-on training.”

During the dedication, Payne’s wife, Karen, said that it was her husband’s passion and energy that inspired Northshore students.

“He lived a life of purpose to get each student to strive to do their best,” Karen said.

One of Payne’s students, Brittany Kendrick, credits her teacher with getting her interested in agriculture. In fact, she plans to either go into horticulture landscaping or to veterinary school.

“He was a real father figure to me,” Kendrick said.

Everybody noted how Payne instilled the concept of giving back to the community to his students. Keep Slidell Beautiful Executive Director Bill Mauser said his organization used all the plants grown by Payne’s students to beautify Slidell. Plus he was instrumental in getting the hanging planters and trash receptacles in Olde Towne, all done by the students.

“His legacy will continue for years to come through his students,” Folse said.

As the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting, Karen Payne looked up into the air, and just as she snipped the ribbon, she said, “Merry Christmas baby.”