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HFM construction students compete in national competition
Challenge emphasizes technology over traditional tools
 Four students from HFM BOCES Construction Trades program
stood before the HFM Board of Education and described the
competitive journey they have been on since September.
For the second year in a row, a team from the program won
the statewide New York State Builders Association Student
Competition and earned a chance to compete in Las Vegas at
the International Homebuilders Show in Feb. 2009.
Team members included high school senior Chris Orr from
Johnstown, and
Broadalbin-Perth seniors Jesse Angel, RJ Reakes and Tom
Stuart. All four are second-year students in the HFM BOCES
construction trades program taught by Mark Tanner (masonry),
Todd Stallmer (electrical and plumbing), and Mike
McGillycuddy (carpentry).
At the New York competition, held Sept. 12, 2008 in
Albany, the team worked together to measure, cut, lay out
and assemble two adjoining four-foot-by-eight-foot wall
sections.
 They
encountered a few minor difficulties along the way, but in
the end, it was their teamwork, attention to detail,
technical skills and safety consciousness that helped them
edge out teams from five other BOCES to earn the chance to
advance to the national competition.
The $5,000 prize money paid the way to the international
show, allowing the four students and their teachers the
opportunity to spend five days with students from around the
country exploring the largest building trades show of its
kind.
Broadalbin-Perth senior Jesse Angel was impressed by the
size of the Las Vegas show and the incredible diversity of
products on display.
"There were thousands of vendors with every kind of new tool
and building material," said Jesse. "We saw new solar
collectors that were round tubes, instead of flat panels.
There was a big emphasis on green building technology."
Put away the hammer, pick up a mouse
The competition in Las Vegas focused on residential
construction management skills. While the team won the New
York competition by actually building two
four-foot-by-eight-foot wall panels, their new challenge
required a different set of technical skills, and was more
mental than physical.
"We were given blueprints for a house," explained RJ. "Our
task was to plan the construction and modify the plans to
make the house more valuable."
The team never picked up a hammer or a saw. For two months
before heading west, the students pored over the plans and
looked for alternate, more cost-effective building
solutions. They prepared a slideshow presentation for the
competition using a different tool - computer software.
"Economy was a factor in everything," Johnstown senior Chris
Orr said. "We looked for ways to improve the value of the
house while cutting the cost of building it."
All four students spoke during their 10-minute presentation
before the judges, then faced an additional 10-minute
question and answer session.
"I was very nervous," RJ confessed.
While a team from an Alaskan school won the competition,
the students from HFM BOCES saw the trip as an outstanding
experience. Exposure to the newest technologies in their
chosen careers, and speaking with companies from around the
world made a big impact on the four students.
"We were at the show from eight-to-five every day," Jesse
said. "Five days wasn't enough time to see it all."
Completing the HFM BOCES construction trades program will
open doors for them in the future, the teammates agree. RJ
is planning to enroll at Alfred State College of Technology
to study construction management. Chris is thinking about
college but knows for sure he wants to work in the
electrical field. And both Jesse and Tom plan to pursue work
as masons after they graduate in June, perhaps even going
into business together in the years to come.
For more information about HFM's construction trades
program,
click here.
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