STAFF REPORT :::
Students from Griffin and Spalding high schools and the Griffin Regional College & Career Academy recently participated in the Central Georgia & Southern Crescent Workforce Development Alliance Skills Challenge held in Macon.
The Associated General Contractors of Georgia (AGC Georgia) joined forces with Sheridan Construction and Swofford Construction to host construction students from 19-area high schools for the competitions held Oct. 31, at the Macon Farmers Market.
Competitions were held in blueprint reading, carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing, roofing and welding.
“This is a great opportunity for high school students who are interested in the general contracting and construction industries to showcase what they’ve learned through a series of skills challenges,” said Mike Dunham, CEO of AGC Georgia. “Beyond inspiring the competitors, we hope to educate and engage students to understand the opportunities within construction and encourage them to consider our industry as a career path.”
Students from the Griffin-Spalding County School System were joined in competition by construction students from Baldwin County High School, Camden County High School, Central Educational Center, Crisp County High School, Dooly County High School, Griffin High School, Griffin Regional College & Career Academy School, Hardaway High School, Harris County High School, Henry County High School, Hutchings College & Career Academy, Jackson High School, Jones County High School, Jordan Vocational College and Career Academy, Lee County High School, Mary Persons High School, Newton College & Career Academy, Putnam County High School and Spalding High School.
Along with the more than 200 competitors who attended this event, several hundred more students attended as observers to learn the process in hopes of competing in future years. Local industry companies provided the volunteer judges for each of the skills competitions, as well as the volunteers who offered hands-on activities for student observers. These activities helped students become more familiar with specific construction trades.
This event also prepared students who will go on to compete in the regional SkillsUSA event in January. Winners of that regional event participate in the state SkillsUSA competition in early March at the Georgia World Congress Center.
For additional information about Skills Challenges, please visit www.agcga.org/skills.
About AGC Georgia
AGC Georgia is a professional trade association and the statewide chapter affiliated with The Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. (AGC of America). AGC Georgia member firms perform a majority of the public and private commercial construction work in Georgia and include more than 630 of the top general contractors, residential/light commercial builders, construction managers, design-builders, municipal-utility contractors, heavy and highway contractors, specialty contractors, service providers, and suppliers. AGC Georgia is one of 89 chapters representing over 27,000 member firms nationwide. AGC of America is the largest and most respected construction trade association in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.agcga.org.