Record number of students participate in 2022 Northeast Georgia Skills Challenge

Nearly 300 high school students participated in Wednesday’s Northeast Georgia Skills Challenge hosted by Carroll Daniel Construction in partnership with the Associated General Contractors of Georgia.

The challenge started at 8:30 a.m. at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center in Hall County. 

The AGC Skills challenge series allows students to show off their skills, network and learn from professionals in the construction and trade industry.  Winners of the regional events move on to the state SkillsUSA competitions held each March at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. 

Georgia Senator Butch Miller said the demand for people with trade skills is high.    

“These are the skills that we need for the future, not only of our community but of our state and of our nation.  We have to give those kids the opportunity to continue those skills through high school and into adulthood,” Miller said.

The students from 25 different high schools competed in blueprint reading, broadcast news production, cabinet making, carpentry, construction career displays, electrical, HVAC, masonry, plumbing, team building and welding.

“Over here, I can show my actual skills, I can show things that I learned.  And I feel like this gives me a better chance than someone that just gives me a test and tells me to do good on it,” Julian Ortega, a student at Bermar High school, said.

Students participating in the broadcast news production served as onsite news reporters and producers covering the event.  The video produced will be used to promote the Skills Challenge next year.

Students also had the opportunity to observe the competition and learn about careers in construction.  Local industry companies set up career tables and provided judges for each of the skilled trades competitions.

“This is a great way for us to explore, explain and demonstrate to them what great career opportunities there are in construction,” Brian Daniel, the President and CEO of Carroll Daniel Construction, said.

Names of the winners for each category are as follows: