North Carolina's High School Masonry Day 2016 a Success

Words: Dan Kamys17 November 2016 — Some 200 masonry students, instructors and school administrators from surrounding North Carolina counties participated in the High School Masonry Day at Gold Hill in mid-November.  Johnson Concrete Company and Carolina Stalite hosted the event at their Ben Ketchie Park on a perfect fall day and provided tours of the Carolina Stalite lightweight aggregate manufacturing plant and demonstrations of masonry materials, accessories and equipment. [caption id="attachment_14192" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]Students who attended the Masonry Day 2016 took a tour of the Carolina Stalite lightweight aggregate manufacturing plant. Students who attended the Masonry Day 2016 took a tour of the Carolina Stalite lightweight aggregate manufacturing plant.[/caption] A chicken barbecue lunch for everyone was prepared and donated by Huntley Brothers Company and McGee Brothers Company who, along with Gates Construction Company, provided volunteer masonry professionals to guide the students through the exhibits and answer questions about careers in masonry. The event was the brainchild of former masonry instructor Ryan Shaver (now with Johnson Concrete), who says similar future events are planned for other parts of the Carolinas. Photos from the event are available via the website of the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association.
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