NCCER Congratulates 2017 SkillsUSA National Carpentry, Masonry Competition Winners

ALACHUA, Fla. — More than 6,000 outstanding career and technical education students competed in 100 different craft, technical and leadership fields. The competitions were part of the SkillsUSA Championships, which is the national-level competition for secondary and post-secondary students enrolled in CTE programs. Students not only test their knowledge and skills against industry standards, but are given the opportunity to compete against peers in their craft.

2017 marked the eighth year that NCCER has sponsored the national carpentry competition and its fifth year sponsoring the national masonry competition. Carpentry Technical Committee Chair Boyd Worsham of The Haskell Company and Masonry Technical Committee Chair Bill Kjorlien of Argos USA, led the way in organizing this year’s events.

NCCER congratulates the winners from both contests. In carpentry, high school medalists were Mason Volmer of Parsons, Kansas (gold); Toye Patrick of Greenwood, South Carolina (silver) and Irving Skowfoe of Schoharie, New York (bronze). Postsecondary medalists were Dylan Giager of Parsons, Kansas (gold); Alex Engelmeyer of Freeport, Minnesota (silver) and Matt Spawn of Columbus, Nebraska (bronze).

In masonry, high school medalists were Kelby Thornton of Concord, North Carolina (gold); Elijah Williams of Mount Jackson, Virginia (silver) and Cole Christadore of Danielson, Connecticut (bronze). Postsecondary medalists were Jake Freeman of Selma, Alabama (gold); Ronald Vann of Media, Pennsylvania (silver) and Ramon Vargas of Phoenix, Arizona (bronze).

This year’s competition featured 68 secondary and post-secondary carpentry competitors. Their skills were tested on a uniquely designed project that required the construction of load-bearing wall framing utilizing wood and steel stud framing members, as well as roof framing that incorporated post, beam and rafter construction and exterior siding and trim. Contestants were judged on job interview skills, written test scores, safety, adherence to plans, craftsmanship and the proper use of tools and materials to perform the required tasks.

Additionally, 38 masonry contestants were challenged to construct projects composed of brick and block in a six-hour period. Contestants were judged on their ability to meet industry standards in quality workmanship and on their written test scores. Project components included the most frequently used details in residential construction.

Winners of both competitions were decided based on the combined results of a written exam and evaluation of the competition project by a panel of journey-level judges. The contests are planned by technical committees made up of industry representatives to test the skills needed for successful entry level performance as a carpenter or mason. Due to their tremendous importance, safety practices and procedures were also judged as a component of each contestant’s overall score.