Masonry Magazine May 2001 Page. 28
Athens, Ohio
The vocational masonry program at Tri-County Career Center has 15 students under the instruction of Mike Pierson. Currently, the students are working on a special project laying block on an addition to the school's bus garage. Last year's major project was the completion of a Fitness Center. The Fitness Center was split face block on the first floor and wood frame on the second floor and took a little over a year to complete.
Oak Hill, West Virginia
The masonry program at Fayette Plateau Vocational Technical Center, under the instruction of Frank D. Aylor, works with the building construction program and electricity program to build all brick homes with masonry fireplaces to be sold at auction. The profits are then divided between the programs. The building construction class is finishing house #21 and have poured the footer for house #22. The masonry class has started some of the corners for the foundation on the new house and will complete the foundation soon. The class also works on projects for other schools in the area, adjacent towns and non-profit organizations.
Princeton, West Virginia
According to Carl W. Pruett, masonry instructor, there are currently 18 students enrolled in the masonry program at Mercer County Technical Educational Center. The main concern of this program is laying brick and block; however, students are also taught pouring and finishing concrete, ceramic tile and stone work. The latest project completed by students was a 24' x 40' storage building at one of the feeder high schools. The project consisted of pouring concrete footings, laying block walls and pouring and finishing the concrete floor. Near the site, the students constructed a donor wall with engraved bricks that honored donors for work being done on the school's track and practice field.
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Masonry instructor Todd A. Larson reports that he currently has 16 students in the one-year Bricklaying and Masonry Program at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. The program started in 1993 and emphasizes hands-on training. First semester, the students learn the basic skills associated with brick and blocklaying by building a series of projects beginning with very simple block pyramids to building a full concrete block basement for a Habitat for Humanity home. During this time, the students are also taking classes in blueprint reading, math and communications. Second semester, the students spend eight weeks in a lab learning about and building cavity walls, brick veneer, landscape applications, arches and fireplaces and then spend eight weeks working seven-hour days building community projects for non-profit organizations. Masonry students at WITC also have the opportunity to compete in Skills USA VICA competitions and in 1999, WITC student Mike Quinn was the post-secondary national champion.