Masonry Magazine August 2014 Page. 17
MAS5308_August2014_MAS 7/22/14 9:40 AM Page 15
The masonry programs or schools of each first-place winner received a $1,500 scholarship check from Spec Mix. All six medal winners won tools from Bon Tool, tools and engraved trowels from Marshall�town, construction calculators, boots and various electronic devices that were donat�ed by supportive contest sponsors.
Masonry competitors were part of more than 6,100 students who compet�ed in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields. The contestants demonstrated their expertise in the occupational skills required for such trades as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, carp en�try, plumbing and masonry.
The awards ceremony was held at Kemper Arena in front of a crowd of more Shown Is Samuel McSherry, 1st place winner of the SklllsUSA high school/secondary division. than 15,000 on the final evening. Mike Rowe, best-known as the host of the televi�sion series"Dirty Jobs:' was presented with SkillsUSA's Torch Carrier Award for his personal efforts in promoting the mission of SkillsUSA. (Masonry Technical Com�mittee Chair Bryan Light received this award last year.) While on stage, Rowe taped the lead in to a "Dirty Jobs" episode, which will air on CNN. In that segment, Rowe highlights the need for vocational technical training in America
Student interest in masonry vocational training continues to strengthen. This year's contest saw 33 high school and 19 post-secondary/college contestants. To qualify, the students had been winners, or designated second place finishers, of their own state contests.
They competed against the clock and
Shown is Daniel Furr, 1st place winner of the SklllsUSA post�secondary/college division.
themselves to demonstrate their expertise in this ancient profession. The contest con�sisted ofa written test, followed by the construction of a brick Bryan Light of Brick SouthEast, a Brick Industry Associa�and block composite project. Test and production competen�tion affiliate, has served as chairman of the technical commit�cies were set by the masonry industry. tee since 2003. Light was complimentary in his appreciation of
The project for this year's contest was designed by Bryan other supporters. Light to test the production skills needed for successful entry "Our industry's support of this competition continues to be into the masonry profession. The design included 26 CMUs exemplary;' says Light. "Everyone involved understands the ( concrete blocks) in three different sizes and 105 modular and importance of technical training for the proper use oftheir un-cored modular bricks. products, each of which contributes to excellence in finished
The projects were judged by trade professionals from brick and block projects:' Bricklayers Local #15, members of the National Education Members of the National Masonry Technical Committee Team, and selected vocational instructors. They judged the and other sustaining members and sponsors of the contest projects by taking extensive measurements, measuring include Brick Industry Association SE Region; Argos USA, plumb at six locations, and judging finishing techniques Bon Tool Co.; Brick Industry Association; Marshalltown Co.; and overall appearance. Mason Contractors Association ofAmerica; Masonry Institute
www.masonrymagazine.com August2014 � MASONRY 15
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