Masonry Magazine October 1999 Page. 22
Bryan Crouse, Hudson, N.C., puts the finishing row of bricks on his winning National Masonry Contest project. Crouse, a South Caldwell High School graduate, won the high school division.
Above, thirty-eight contestants from 32 states participated in this year's National Masonry Contest at the National Skills and Leadership Conference at the H. Roe Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo.
Second place winner in the post secondary category, Troy Tesmer of Belolt, Kans, carefully completes his National Masonry Contest project.
Third place winner in the high school competition, Michael Kocevar, Harrisburg, Penn., carefully taps a finishing row brick on his National masonry Contest project.
22 MASONRY- SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 1999
Contributing members of the masonry industry joined together recently to support the 35th annual Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) National Leadership and Skill Conference held in Kansas City, Mo., June 3 through July 2.
The National Masonry Contest, held in conjunction with the NLSC, was supported by industry contributions and participation by representatives from across the U.S.A. Committee Chairman Bill Kjorlien, Southern Brick Institute, reports greater industry support than ever before for this trade competition.
Thirty-eight high school and junior college contestants from 32 different states, each of them winners of their own state or regional event, competed in a written test then built composite projects judged by 13 trade professionals.
The winner of the post secondary competition was Mike Quinn, 23, a second-generation mason from Cameron, Wisc. The high school winner was Bryan Crouse, 18, from South Caldwell High School, Hudson, N.C. This is the second straight year, and the 10th of the past 12 years, that the North Carolina contestant has won the competition.
Quinn, Crouse and the other contestants were supported in their efforts by donations of materials from Spec Mix, Endicott Brick, Miller Material: an Old Castle Co., and Lone Star Cement. Spec Mix salesmen from around the country were "slingin' mud" throughout the day in support of the aspiring masons.
Sustaining members and sponsors of the contest included Associated General Contractors c