KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- When the University of Tennessee closed its student housing complexes on Sutherland Avenue this year, hundreds of families had to scramble to find a new place to live.

One family turned to Habitat for Humanity, and ultimately, UT students helped them re-build.

Emily and Nick Avery and their son Benjamin were looking for affordable housing.

Their apartment complex was shut down in May, so they got involved with the Habitat program.

When they picked up the tools to get to work on their new house, they did so alongside other UT students.

"I'm hoping it'll be a nice, quiet neighborhood," Emily Avery told Volunteer TV Saturday as hammers pounded in the background.

But right now, those hammers are like music to Avery's ears.

"We've already chosen the colors," she said. "It's going to be a greenish brown for the vinyl siding and then the shutters and the door are going to be the same reddish, maroon color."

The Avery's were accepted into the Habitat for Humanity program, and as it turns out Emily's fellow classmates were assigned to her project.

"At a time when a lot of people are losing their houses, we're able to help build a home for somebody," Evan Nylander said. "It's very addicting: the euphoric feel of being able to give something to somebody."

Nylander is an MBA graduate who came back to help with the build.

The students put down their books and picked up hard hats, goggles, tool belts and tape measures.

"There's always a way to fit things in your schedule," Sarah Meyers, a first-year MBA student smiled.

"This to me is a lot more than my homework today because just helping Emily and Nick, giving them a place to live is really, really important," Meyers continued.

"I thought it was very poetic," the new homeowner beamed. "I was thinking, we've put so much time and energy into UT and into UT housing and [the MBA students] are putting a lot of time and energy obviously in building our house."

Even though Emily never met any of these fellow Tennessee volunteers until Saturday, she said there was an instant camaraderie.

"How fortunate are we all, that we're given different gifts and right now the gifts that we're given is the ability to serve her," Nylander added.

For the Averys, school pride takes on a new meaning.

"Even if I wasn't a fan, they're helping build my house," Emily told WVLT. "Go Vols!"

This is the eighth year UT's MBA program partnered with Habitat for Humanity.

Remember to be eligible for a Habitat home, the Averys have to put in 500 hours of sweat equity.

That includes attending budget classes and helping with other Habitat builds, and it works in lieu of a down payment.

The Averys are expecting the home to be ready around Thanksgiving, which is also Emily's birthday this year.