Masonry Magazine September 2005 Page. 16
Making the Grade Students
Note: If you have an apprentice mason to nominate, contact: J. David Holt, c/o Holt Marketing Group, Inc., 6120 Union Chapel Road, Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo. 64152 or fax to (816) 891-6666.
in the Spotlight
North Carolina Sweeps
National Masonry Contest
Vocational students from North Carolina won both divisions of the National Masonry Competition, held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, in Kansas City, Mo., June 22-24. This was the 41st year of the masonry competitions.
The 2005 winner of the post-secondary competition was Josh Morrison, 19, from Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, N.C. The 2005 winner of the high school competition was Dallas Caudle, 18, also from Central Cabarrus High School. Caudle placed second in the high school competition last year. Todd B. Hartsell instructs both students.
Student interest in masonry vocation training continues to be strong. This year, 54 high school and post-secondary contestants from 37 states and the Virgin Islands, all winners of their own prospective state or regional event, competed in the two classes.
The national contest consists of a written test and the construction of a brick and block composite project. Trade professionals from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local #15 and selected vocational instructors judged the projects.
Technical Committee Chairman Bryan Light of the Southern Brick Institute says, "I am pleased to report that industry support for this annual trade competition was greater than ever before."
Again this year, Light gave special recognition to his education team, a group of instructors who assist in the set-up, carrying out the contest, and judging. "Billy Madkins, Todd Larsen and Jack Wentz literally spent the week here with me," Light says. "We couldn't have done it without them."
The 54 contestants were supported in their efforts by donations of materials from SPEC MIX, Inc., Acme Brick Company and Midwest Block & Brick, Inc. SPEC MIX salesmen from around the country were "slingin' mud" throughout the day in support of the aspiring masons.