MACON, Ga. - The Associated General Contractors of Georgia has joined forces with Sheridan Construction and Swofford Construction to host construction students from 19-area high schools for the Central Georgia & Southern Crescent Workforce Development Alliance Skills Challenge. 

The competitions will be held on Oct. 31, beginning at 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm, at the Macon Farmers Market, located at 2055 Eisenhower Parkway.

Competitions will be held in the following skill categories: blueprint reading, carpentry, electrical, masonry, plumbing, roofing and welding.

“This is a great opportunity for high school students who are interested in the general contracting and construction industries to showcase what they’ve learned through a series of skills challenges,” said Mike Dunham, CEO of AGC Georgia. “Beyond inspiring the competitors, we hope to educate and engage students to understand the opportunities within construction and encourage them to consider our industry as a career path.”

Construction students from the following schools plan to compete in the Central Georgia & Southern Crescent Skills Challenge: Baldwin County High School, Camden County High School, Central Educational Center, Crisp County High School, Dooly County High School, Griffin High School, Griffin Regional College & Career Academy School, Hardaway High School, Harris County High School, Henry County High School, Hutchings College & Career Academy, Jackson High School, Jones County High School, Jordan Vocational College and Career Academy, Lee County High School, Mary Persons High School, Newton College & Career Academy, Putnam County High School and Spalding High School.

Along with the more than 200 competitors who will attend this event, several hundred more students will attend as observers to learn the process in hopes of competing in future years. 

Local industry companies provide the volunteer judges for each of the skills competitions, as well as the volunteers who offer hands-on activities for student observers. These activities help students become more familiar with specific construction trades.

This event also prepares students who go on to compete in the regional SkillsUSA event in January. Winners of that regional event participate in the state SkillsUSA competition in early March at the Georgia World Congress Center.

For more information about Skills Challenges, please visit www.agcga.org/skills.