FGCU hosted Southwest Florida’s first-ever Masonry showcase for aspiring masons and apprentices of the trade on Saturday, Dec. 6. The competition was organized by South Fort Myers and East Lee High Schools, as well as Florida Masonry, to provide students with experience in working with time constraints and blueprints.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to experience real-world job site conditions,” Executive Director of Florida Masonry Donna Hinson said. “There are so many different types of jobs that you can have within the industry.”
The first hour gave participants time to set up their stations and prepare everything. The competition kicked off at 9 a.m. after an opening speech by one of the organizers. Each competitor was given an identical blueprint to complete within the two-hour time limit, allowing enough time for their structures to be judged…