Construction Trades Skills-USA trip to Sparta
A summary of events for the two days
by Ken Francis
April 19, 2007
The JDC-AVC team effort for the Skills-USA contest that took place on April 13 and 14, down in Sparta, Illinois, is now history. There were 3 teams of 4 students each, which were represented by our Vocational Center and 2 groups from the Sparta High School. One of the Sparta teams consisted of all seniors and the other was comprised of juniors.
Leaving Thursday at noon, it took over 7 hours of steady driving to arrive there, at which time we all checked into the motel. Since all students and staff had to be at the Sparta High school work location by 7 a.m., we all had a quick supper at the Pizza Hut and then 'hit the sack'.
The next morning, each team had about 1 hour to survey their area, check their materials and tools, figure out and design a flow chart of needed activities for their plan of construction and then go to a separate room to make their presentation to the 3 judges, who would officiate for the next two days. When all three groups had accomplished this, it was very close to the starting time of 9 AM.
Once the proceedings started, no one, except the judges, were allowed to either talk to the students or even cross over their taped out work areas, where the construction efforts were taking place. The students were given one 15 minute break both morning and afternoon and a half hour lunch period. All students started and stopped at the same time.
Several construction projects had to be completed during the course of the first day, which placed additional pressure on all 3 groups. One of these was a cement block wall that was about 5 feet long and 2 feet high with a face brick veneer. Another was a small flight of stairs leading to a pre-constructed work platform, where all the electrical and plumbing work was to be completed. The only time students were allowed up on the platform, was after the steps were created and installed. In addition to this, 2 steel studded wall had to be built onto the pre-existing wood wall.
The main project, however (which remained undisclosed to everyone until the morning of the first day), was an 8 X 10 foot garden shed, built from the ground up. All the materials to accomplish this were provided for all three groups, but each piece needed to be cut to size according to the plans. Generally, one student from each group (besides being involved themselves), assumed the duties of a foreman and delegated duties and assignments to the others to keep things moving along at a fairly brisk, but safe, pace. All students wore hard hats and safety glasses during the working sessions.
Even though all 3 groups made occasional mistakes that needed to be corrected before continuing, none of them finished ALL the required projects. As such, judging will not be based entirely on how much was completed, but more-so on the quality of work done. When the second day came to an end, no decision had been rendered by the judges, as yet, but was to be announced at the Springfield, Illinois individual Skills-USA conference meet the following weekend.
Due to the length of travel time to Sparta (and back), the judges and other Skills-USA officials there, decided to end the final work day about 2 hours short of the scheduled time to stop. This was much appreciated and allowed us to get back on the road a little sooner that we anticipated. After an informal handshaking and congratulatory ceremony, along with much picture taking, we parted company and started back to Elizabeth. We arrived safe and sound, but tired, late Saturday evening. The plans for next years events were already being developed!
