Masonry Magazine August 2001 Page. 42
Regional Contests Set for MCAA's Masonry Skills Challenge
By Kimberly Shifflette, Director of Education
The Masonry Skills Challenge is an international competition of masonry apprentices in three skill levels: first year, second year and third year. It is a showcase for skills training and will pit winning apprentices from regional U.S. and foreign competitions to determine the top masonry apprentice in each skill level. The Challenge is designed to not only spotlight our industry's finest young bricklayers, but to also spotlight careers in the masonry industry.
In order to be eligible to compete in the international competition, apprentices must win first place in an MCAA-sanctioned regional competition. Dates and locations for this year's regional competitions in the U.S. are as follows:
Region A - September 29, 2001 in the Baltimore/DC area
Region B - Already held on June 2, 2001 in Pensacola, FL
Region C - September 15, 2001 in Belleville, MI
Region D - October 12, 2001 in Springfield, IL.
Region E - No Competition Scheduled
Region F - TBA - Dallas, TX
Region G - October 27, 2001 in Phoenix, AZ
Region H - TBA - Los Angeles, CA
Region I - Already held on May 26, 2001 in Portland, OR
All MCAA members are invited to enter an apprentice in their regional competition. Any active apprentice in a program for working apprentice masons will be eligible to compete in their regional competition. Each contestant will be presented with a project design to be completed during a specified time frame three or four hours. These projects will then be judged on laying to the line, plumb and level, appearance, cleanliness and overall quality. Winners from the regional competitions will then be eligible to compete at the International Masonry Skills Challenge on February 9, 2002 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza in Phoenix, AZ.
For more information on the Masonry Skills Challenge, or information on how to enter an apprentice in your region's competition, call the MCAA office at 800/536-2225.
Contestants at the 2001 International Masonry Skills Challenge worked diligently to be named the top apprentice.