BURLINGTON, Iowa – Carl A. Nelson & Company construction management and contracting firm hosted its third annual High School Construction Skills Challenge Thursday for area construction trades students. Teams of five students apiece from five area high schools came to test the skills they have learned in school.
Participating in the 2019 Construction Skills Challenge were Burlington High School, West Burlington High School, Mediapolis High School, Fort Madison High School, and Keokuk High School. Students progressed through a series of modules, including:
· Hanging a hollow steel door;
· Setting a concrete form;
· Building floor joists, and;
· Installing drywall on metal studs.
The students also were given a knowledge test.
Each challenge was worked as a team, as judges looked for the degree of completion, build quality, safety and cleanliness.
Taking the prize for first place was the team from Fort Madison High School. It was the second win by FMHS in the three years of the event.
Taking second place was the team from Mediapolis High School. The prizes for the Top 2 places were gift cards — $400 for first place, $200 for second place – to purchase needed equipment or supplies for the Construction Trades programs at the winning schools.
