Students enjoy Huth Career Day

Ice Sculptures do more than just amaze the students
at Huth Road Elementary School

Grand Island Dispatch, February 1, 2008

From left, Mrs. Diliberto, Doreen Matwijkow, Jacob Matwijkow, and ice sculptor John Matwijkow at Huth Road Elementary School Career Day.

As a follow up to Mrs. Diliberto’s fifth graders’ Career Day project, the parents of Jacob Matwijkow, John and Doreen Matwijkow, volunteered their time and materials to teach the children about the boy’s father’s trade of being an ice sculptor.

John Matwijkow spoke to the students about his 20-plus year career and what he had to learn to create such breathtaking sculptures. He told the students that for the first 10 years of sculpting, nothing ever turned out the way he had envisioned it. The students were inspired to hear of his perseverance and dedication to his craft.

As the Vice President of the American Culinary Federation, Greater Buffalo Chapter, John Matwijkow has established a professional network and trusted relations with many local Western New York facilities. He spoke to the children about his recent work of art that was displayed at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Sabres Winter Classic game. He brought the Sabres section of the Ice Bowl sculpture in to show the children and displayed it in the courtyard for all of Huth Road to enjoy. In addition, he built another ice sculpture for the students using the school emblem of a Viking. The children truly were amazed as. Matwijkow molded and shaped the ice, using various tools such as a heated iron, chainsaw, liquid nitrogen, and water.