National Contest Validates Training, Development

Words: Dan Kamys

National Contest Validates Training, Development

The 2009 National Masonry Contest was part of the 45th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held in Kansas City, Mo., in June. The contest allowed 45 masons-to-be to showcase their skills. For up to six hours, contestants in the national masonry championships strove to build the best composite project of block and brick according to plans distributed the previous day.

The first-place winners were:

  • Post Secondary Competition:
    Bradley Wright, 19, Selma, Ala.
  • High School (Secondary) Competition:
    Jared Gandy, 19, Mt. Pleasant, N.C.







Jared Gandy
Jared Gandy
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