For up to six hours, 46 young masons from 33 states competed
at H. Roe Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo. Each contestant, using three types of
block and three types of brick, tried to construct the winning project by
placing the masonry materials and mortar exactly in accordance with the plans.
The 2013 winner of the post-secondary/college competition
was Brent Austin, 20, from Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, N.C. Austin’s
instructor is Todd Hartsell. The 2013 winner of the secondary/high school
competition was Andrew Mullis, 18, from South Rowan High School in China Grove,
N.C. Mullis’ instructor is Rodney Harrison.
Each first-place winner received a $1,500 scholarship check
from Spec Mix. All six medal winners won tools, engraved trowels, boots,
computers and digital cameras – all donated by supportive contest sponsors.
Masonry competitors were part of more than 6,000 students
who competed in 104 different career trade, technical and leadership fields. All
of them state contest winners, the contestants effectively demonstrated their
expertise in the occupational skills required for such trades as electronics,
computer-aided drafting, culinary arts, carpentry, plumbing and masonry.
During the final evening, the awards ceremony was held at
Kemper Arena in front of a crowd of more than 15,000.
Student interest in masonry vocational training continues to
be strong. This year, 31 high school and 15 post-secondary/college contestants competed
in two divisions. To qualify, the students had been winners, or designated
second-place finishers, of their own state contests. They competed against the
clock and against themselves to demonstrate their expertise in masonry.
The contest consisted of a written test and the construction
of a brick-and-block composite project. The project for the contest was
designed by Bryan Light of Brick Industry Association, SE Region, to test the
skills needed for successful entry into the masonry profession. Bryan Light has
served as chairman of the technical committee since September 2003.
Trade professionals from Bricklayers Local #15 and selected vocational
instructors judged the projects by taking extensive measurements, measuring
plumb at six locations, and judging finishing techniques and overall
appearance.
New members of the National Masonry Technical Committee and
welcomed sponsors of the contest were National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Oldcastle Architectural. The sustaining
members and sponsors of the contest included Argos USA, Bon Tool Co., BrickIndustry Association, BIA SouthEast Region, EZ Grout Corp., Marshalltown Trowel Co., MCAA, Multiquip, NCMA, and Spec Mix.
This year’s contestants were supported by donations and
services from Spec Mix, Multiquip, Oldcastle Architectural, Glen-Gery Brick, MidwestBlock & Brick, and the NCMA. The tour was followed by a luncheon in honor
of the contestants and their instructors. Steve Green, VP of the NCCER, spoke
to the contestants during the luncheon.
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