With workforce development a primary focus for the masonry industry, many of its key suppliers and organizations united on June 25th in Louisville, Kentucky to support the 2015 SkillsUSA National Masonry Contest. The event was held during the 51st annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference where well over 6,100 students representing over 100 different professions flocked to the Bluegrass state to claim the championship title in their respective field. To qualify for the Nationals, the students had been winners of their own state run contests in either the secondary or post-secondary education categories.
In Louisville the masonry trade was strongly represented by 43 young bricklayers from 32 states, however North Carolina delivered the only two gold medal winning masons. The National Champion of the secondary/high school division of the competition was Luke Dutton from West Rowan High School in Mount Ulla, North Carolina. The 18-year old Dutton was trained by Rodney Harrington who said months before Nationals, “I personally think we have a national champ on our hands. It takes a student that is willing to put in the work.” Obviously, Harrington can call a winner when he sees one.
