Masonry Magazine August 2007 Page. 12
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
National Contest Supports Masonry Skills Training and Development
Masonry industry companies and organizations joined together to support the 43rd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference and the National Masonry Contest held in Kansas City, Mo., June 25-29, 2007.
For up to six hours, 48 young masons from 36 states competed at Bartle Hall. Each contestant, using block and brick and mortar, tried to construct the winning project by placing the masonry materials, according to plans, on a concrete block base.
The 2007 winner of the post-secondary competition was Michael Wagner from The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Media, Pa. Wagner's instructor is Daniel L. Hiltebeitel. The 2007 winner of the secondary (high school) competition was Marcus G. Hefner from West Stanley High School of Oakboro, N.C. Hefner's instructor is Timothy Kidd.
The masonry competitors were among more than 5,000 students who competed in 84 different career trade, technical and leadership fields. The contestants effectively demonstrated their expertise in the occupational skills required for such trades as masonry, electronics, technical drafting, precision machining, carpentry and plumbing.
During the final evening, the awards ceremony was held at Kemper Arena in front of a crowd of more than 15,000.
As supported by this annual event, student interest in masonry vocational training continues to be strong. This year, 31 high school and 17 post-secondary contestants competed in two divisions. To qualify, the students were winners, or designated second place finishers, of their own state contests.
Students competed against the clock and against themselves to demonstrate their expertise in this noble profession.
2007 NATIONAL BRICK MASONRY CONTEST WINNERS
Post-secondary Competition:
First Place
Michael G. Wagner
The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, Media, Pa
Second Place
Travis Greenly
Central Cabarrus High School, Concord, N.C.
Third Place
Christian C. Cruz
Alfred State College, SUNY College of Technology. Alfred, N.Y.
Secondary Competition (High School):
First Place
Marcus G. Hefner
West Stanley High School, Oakboro, N.C
Second Place
Jared Braveboy
Lake City High School, Lake City, S.C.
Third Place
Bradley V. Wright
Earnest Pruett Center of Technology, Hollywood, Ala.
The winners of the 2007 National Masonry Contest took the stage at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.
The red-jacketed winners of the secondary division in the front row are Jared Braveboy, Marcas Hefner and Bradley V. Wright. The post-secondary division winners in the second row are to r) Travis Greenly, Michael Wagner and Christian Cruz. Members of the Masonry Technical Committee included (tor) Kellie Marshallitown Company, Harry Junk, National Concrete Masonry Association; Light, Brick SouthEast and chair of the Masonry Technical Committee organized the contest; Bil Kjorlien, masonry tech sales manager, Lafarge America and former Technical Committee Chair, and Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice and Education Foundation.
The floor of Bartle Hall as 48 masons constructed their composite projects at the National Masonry Contest. The Voice of the Masonry Industry