On February 11th, Lantz Superintendent Tony McMillan was one of three judges for the SkillsUSA Virginia District VI Carpentry Contest held at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. SkillsUSA is a student organization that promotes leadership, community service and professionalism in the trades. District VI comprises Greene County Technical Education Center, Valley Career & Technical Center, Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center, and Massanutten Technical Center.
MTC Carpentry Instructor Neil Tucker coordinated the event, which pitted seven teenagers against each other in a display of their carpentry knowledge and skills. The competitors ranged in age from 16 to 18.
Also volunteering their time to judge this competition were J. M. Snell, Executive VP at Valley Renovators, and Harrisonburg Building Official Ron Schuett.
The project had a 3-hour deadline for completion and involved floor and wall framing, sheathing, rafters, and stair layout. Mr. Tucker explained that the plan was simple, but included some elements that could create a challenge for some. He advised the judges to “watch for orientation of walls, layout direction and offsets,” then added, “The ability to follow the plan is key.”
The winner of the contest, Ethan Foltz of MTC, will now advance along with 12 other District winners to the Virginia state contest held April 9th at Virginia Beach. The national contest will be held later this year in Atlanta, Georgia.
Placing second and third in the contest, also from MTC, were Jesse Armentrout and Caleb Raines, respectively. Prizes were awarded after the contest and all participants received a speed square, hat, and carpenter pencil donated by Lantz.
Mr. Tucker expressed his gratitude for the support Lantz gives to MTC each year and his sincere thanks to Tony for helping out as a judge!
SkillsUSA seeks to instill a competitive spirit among its members through participation in local, district, state, and national events in which students develop personal leadership skills and proficiency in occupational skill achievement. Visit www.skillsusava.org for more information.
Pictured above: Lantz superintendent/contest judge Tony McMillan (in orange shirt) monitors progress at the 2/11/22 carpentry competition, and the top three winners, all from MTC and standing left to right, are Ethan Foltz (1st), Jesse Armentrout (2nd), and Caleb Raines (3rd).