Masonry Magazine July 2001 Page. 42
Making Grade
Student in the spotlight
Young Mason Uses VICA Experience to Land Work
Oscar Rivera, Harlingen, Texas
Oscar Rivera of Harlingen, Texas, is our Masonry Apprentice of the Month. Rivera used his experience in the SkillsUSA-VICA experience last summer to land a job with XCEL Masonry in Birmingham, Ala. "Winning the state competition and competing at the national level enabled me to make a lot of contacts," Rivera said.
In the near future, Rivera expects XCEL to send him to job sites in Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Rivera's instructor at Harlingen High School was Victor Santillan, and Rivera was the fifth student taught by Santillan to represent Texas in the National Masonry Competition.
Of Rivera, Santillan says, "Oscar was a great student. As he learned his skills, he helped me with the beginning students. I believe this has helped him in his work as a bricklayer because he has to work with others."
Of his future, Rivera says, "My father encourages me in masonry. He says it's a good trade and good pay. I'd like to move up the ladder in the construction field. Eventually, I think I'd like to be in management."
42 MASONRY JULY, 2001