| Students showcase skills in GOISD Construction Trades Competition The sounds of hammers pounding and power saws running filled the air on the campus of Gogebic Community College on Thursday, May 17, 2007 as twelve students from the Gogebic Ontonagon Intermediate School District Construction Trades Program showed off their skills and abilities in the 2007 Construction Trades Competition. The competition was the first of its kind held on the GCC campus. High school students from Ironwood, Bessemer, and Ontonagon descended upon the Construction Trades Building at 7:30 a.m. to begin the day’s work. Their task: to construct a 12x10 storage shed for the college’s new soccer field and have it completed by 3:30 p.m. After a safety review and plan overview, the students split up into 4 teams with each given a task to complete. “Students had to construct the floor system, walls, install the sheathing on walls, and frame and complete the roof system. Then the 4 teams had to come together as 1 team to erect the shed. All within 6 hours time,” according to Ray Niemi, competition project designer and Building Trades instructor for the Ironwood/ Bessemer students. Students completed their tasks while under the scrutiny of three judges with over 100 years of combined experience in the construction business. Tom Schneller of Big Snow Country Contracting in Bessemer, Michigan; John Domitrovich of John D. Construction in Ontonagon, Michigan; and Hubert Lukkari, a general contractor also from Ontonagon kept tally using a points system to score the students. Items students where judged on as they constructed the shed included completing as much of the scope of the project as possible in the time given, using proper building techniques, quality workmanship, following proper safety procedures, the efficient use of resources (material, time and personnel), cooperation and team work. Students had to work together to problem solve as issues and questions came up. If they asked advice from their instructor or one of the judges, points were deducted from their total. Josh Moyer, a L.L. Wright senior, noted, “Always not being sure of the next step was difficult. Teamwork helped with a lot of the decision-making.” Shane Glatczak, a Bessemer junior, added, “ It was a bit scary because if you did something wrong, you got points taken off.” “Knowing the judges were watching my work and scoring me on my abilities helped because it enabled me to figure things out for myself instead of asking for help,” said Brad Bolo, a L.L. Wright Junior. The judges all agreed that having students compete in a skills competition is a great idea. “Kids need goals. It’s competitive in the work place and it should be competitive in school also,” said Schneller. “The competition gives individuals thinking about entering the carpentry profession a real life experience,” added Domitrovich. Learning about teamwork was a key theme of the competition. “I learned you need to double check everything yourself and use teamwork,” noted Moyer. “Working with other people to get the job done faster and learning how to get along with new people was good,” said Willy Dabb, a senior at L.L.Wright. Some of the competitors impressed the judges with their leadership skills and willingness to take advice. “I was surprised at how willing students were to listen to experienced carpenter’s advice on ways of building, shortcuts, etc,” said Domitrovich. “The students learned respect for experienced tradesmen and the ability to adapt and work with others,” he added. Students prepared for the competition under the guidance on their instructors, Glenn Guilbault, who has worked in construction for several years and has taught Building Trades for the GOISD and Ontonagon High School for one year and Ray Niemi, who has taught Building Trades for both the GOISD and Gogebic Community College for eight years and has worked in the construction and engineering field for 18 years. At the end of the day, one shed was standing and the winning team was declared. The winning team members included: Marshall Allen, Ironwood; Jason Blodgett, Ironwood; and Andrew Pestka, Ontonagon. “The competition was good for the students,” said Niemi. “They learned teamwork, planning, and efficiency.” And what did the students like best about the competition? “Meeting others who have the same abilities and meeting the area contractors who showed us all their good secrets,” noted Allen. “Being able to meet new people, work for a good cause, and learn new things,” said Bolo. All students in the Construction Trades Competition received certificates of participation, t-shirts, and were entered in a drawing to win building tools and equipment donated by local merchants. Many thanks to Steigers Home Center in Bessemer, Forslunds Lumber Supply in Ironwood, U-Save True Value Hardware and Hawley’s Lumber in Ontonagon for donating the prizes and to Bessemer Plywood Corporation for donating the sheathing used on the outside of the shed. And finally, to the students in the high school Computer Aided Design class who with the assistance of their instructor, Mr. Paul Semmerling, helped with the shed design plan. |
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Sooner or later, all students will seek employment. The Career Preparation System is designed to provide all students completing the Michigan educational system with the necessary academic, technical and work behavior knowledge and skills for success in a career of their choice and lifelong learning. Please use the links at the left to explore the Career and Technical Education opportunities supported by the Gogebic - Ontonagon ISD. |