Masonry Magazine May 2004 Page. 12
Making the Grade Student
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
From Woodworking to Masonry
His instructor tells it best.
"Josh started in our vocational program as a freshman," says Darin Steva, Josh Knudtson's instructor at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa. "His first interest in our building trades class was cabinetmaking. He placed third in the state of Iowa SkillsUSA-VICA competition that year. The following summer he found a job with a local masonry company, and he's concentrated on that trade since."
"Can you believe it?" Steva asks. "This young man did so well in cabinetmaking, then turned around and did even better in masonry."
Knudtson represented Iowa in the national masonry contest held this past summer in Kansas City, Mo, in conjunction with the SkillsUSA-VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference. He competed in the secondary division.
Returning to high school, Knudtson added to his academic and masonry efforts by participating in football, soccer and track.
He was also an active member of the Technical Student Association (TSA). Knudtson started out as a local officer his freshman year. By the end of the year, Knudtson had been elected Iowa TSA State Treasurer. This past fall- while simultaneously participating in SkillsUSA - Knudtson was elected Secretary of the Iowa State Association.
Even though Knudtson's father owns a residential construction business, he gives credit to his instructor.
"Mr. Steva taught me everything I know about masonry," Knudtson says.
Knudtson graduated in February and currently works for Burkett Masonry, earning money to continue his education. He is considering a number of community colleges in Iowa.
Josh Knutsen of Dawson, Iowa, slaps mortar on another brick before adding it to his composite project.
For Mason's
Hydrated Lime...
Contractors and Architects Rely
on MIRACLE MORTA-LOK®
Type "S" hydrated mason's lime
Outstanding workability saves time
and money
A unique combination of strength
and elasticity
Meets all national specifications
(ASTM, UBC, BOCA, SBCC)
Available nationwide
ROCKWELL lime company
4110 Rockwood RoadMan 54220-0619
Phone (302)682-7771800558-7711
CIRCLE 150 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Knudtson checks his work during the secondary competition of the 2003 national masonry contest.
10 Masonry
May 2004
www.masoncontractors.org