AGC Georgia Partners with JCI Contractors to host skills challenge for high school students

The Associated General Contractors of Georgia (AGC Georgia) partnered with JCI Contractors to host construction students from high schools in 33 local counties for the South & Southwest Georgia Skills Challenge. The event was held on Tuesday, Nov. 7, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Sunbelt AG Expo in Moultrie.

This Skills Challenge is one of eight regional events held throughout Georgia that will host over 2,300 students from nearly 100 schools. Competitions held at the South & Southwest Georgia Skills Challenge are: Blueprint Reading, Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, Plumbing, Team Build and Welding.

"As one of the host contractors, we are proud to partner with the local industry and AGC Georgia to promote careers in construction while developing our future workforce," said Lyndy Jones, President of JCI Contractors.

With over 200 students participating in the South & Southwest Georgia Skills Challenge, several hundred additional students will observe in hopes of competing in the future. These students will also benefit from conversations with construction industry professionals who host interactive activities for students to become more familiar with specific construction trades.

"Skills Challenges allow high school students enrolled in construction programs an opportunity to showcase their trade talents in a 'game day' atmosphere," AGC Georgia CEO Mike Dunham said. "For some competitors, this event is a 'Friday Night Lights' experience with the opportunity to receive job offers from participating industry representatives. Each year, we are proud to partner with amazing member contracting firms to showcase rewarding construction career opportunities to student competitors and observers."

Students from construction programs in the following counties are invited to compete in the South & Southwest Georgia Skills Challenge: Atkinson, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Charlton, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Ware and Worth.

This region's schools include: Bainbridge HS; Cairo HS; Clinch County HS; Colquitt County HS; Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy; Early County HS; Lee County HS; Sumter County HS; Thomas County Central HS; Thomson HS; Tift County HS; Valdosta HS; Ware County HS; Wheeler County HS; and Worth County HS.

Students who are members of SkillsUSA Georgia and compete in carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing and welding at this event are eligible to earn a bid to the State Leadership and Skills Competition (SLSC) that will be held in February 2024.

Winners for the November 7 event include:

Electrical

Local
Caden Godwin – Bainbridge High School
William Carl – Camden County High School
Chad Oosterveen – Lee County High School

State Qualifiers

Caden Godwin – Bainbridge High School
Chad Oosterveen – Lee County High School
Brock Donley – Lee County High School

Blueprint Reading

Taryn Lee – Lee County High School
Suzet Medrano – Wheeler County High School
MG Selph – Wheeler County High School

Plumbing

Local
Joey Gibbs – Harris County High School
Molly Bridges – Wheeler County High School
Ryan Tucker – Lee County High School

State Qualifier

Ryan Tucker – Lee County High School
Kaden Walker – Clinch County High School
Daniel Smith – Clinch County High School

Masonry

Local

Arturo Gonzales – Wheeler County High School
Angel Brinson – Thomson High School
Kourtney Brown – Harris County High School

State Qualifier

Joshua Zuniga – Clinch County High School
Walker Woolard – Lee County High School
Dawson Gray – Clinch County High School

SCLC Welding

Local & State Qualifiers

Jose Garcia-Lopez – Colquitt County High School
Cameron James – Lee County High School
Aden Sauls – Colquitt County High School

Team Build

Clinch County High School
Lee County High School

Carpentry

Local

Aaron Walker – Clinch County High School
Quirin Rudolph – Lee County High School
Spenser Butler – Thomson High School

State Qualifier

Aaron Walker – Clinch County High School
Quirin Rudolph – Lee County High School
Cannon Hill – Tift County High School

Overall School Winner

Clinch County High School