|
 For
second year in a row, HFM team wins statewide construction
contest
In half an hour, four students frame up two wall sections
As the minutes ticked by, a team of four HFM BOCES
construction trades students worked together methodically
and carefully, as they measured, cut, laid out and assembled
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 win the New York
State Builders Association Student Competition held Friday,
Sept. 12, in Albany.
Their prize: A $5,000 check that will fund their trip to the
national competition during the International Homebuilders
Show in Las Vegas in January.
Teamwork pays off for HFM BOCES construction technology
students
 "We
were the only team that finished," said Broadalbin-Perth
High School senior Jesse Angel, one of four members of the
HFM BOCES team. "The other teams got their wall sections
built but not assembled."
Team members also included high school senior Chris Orr from
Johnstown, and Broadalbin-Perth seniors 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).
 "The
competition was designed so that students would have to work
collaboratively if they wanted to succeed," Mr. Tanner
explained. "They were given two hammers, one tape measure,
and one T-square," for example, so that meant they had to
work together and stay in communication with each other
throughout the competition. Teams were given only as much
material as they needed to get the job done, and they lost
points if they needed to use additional material because of
errors in their workmanship, Mr. Stallmer said. The project
was designed so teams were hard pressed to complete all of
the work in the allotted 30 minutes.
"Teamwork is always the best thing at a construction site,"
RJ noted, "and we seemed to communicate with each other
better than the other teams."
About a week before the competition, students were given the
plans for the two-wall section that included one two-foot
rough opening. Although some teams practiced building the
walls in advance of the competition, the HFM BOCES team did
not.
 "We
went in with a plan," Jesse said, "but we didn't practice
it. Although our teamwork was pretty good, we did learn that
we would have done even better if we had designated one
person to be the leader. Instead we broke into two teams,
and when we went to put the two walls together, they didn't
quite match up."
With time still left on the clock, however, they put their
heads together, took a few things apart and reassembled,
with enough minutes left to put the two wall sections up,
attached at a 90-degree angle, then plumbed and
straightened. The walls were built 16 inches on center, per
the industry standard.
Also competing were teams from five other BOCES: Broome,
Capital Region, Rockland, Greater Southern Tier and QUESTAR
III.
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 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.
|
