The first Seattle Construction Challenge, a regional competition designed to spark interest in construction careers among middle school and high school students, drew 10 teams Feb. 7 to the Master Builders Association headquarters in Bellevue, WA.
Sixteen regional rallies took place around the U.S. and Canada on the same day, as teams qualified to advance to the Championship Finals in Knoxville, TN, on May 19–23.
Construction Challenge, which debuted last year, is a joint effort by The Association of Equipment Manufacturers and Destination ImagiNation, which are working together to develop the future workforce. Through the competition, students explore key elements of the construction industry including new technologies, research, engineering, project management, product development, manufacturing, service support, and career pathways.
Sue Z. Hart, Seattle rally leader, said teams consist of five to seven students and are divided between middle schools and high schools. She said she felt the participating teams were very well dispersed from around the region.
The event required teams to compete in three scored challenge activities:
- Infrastructure Presentation — Teams researched infrastructure issues (roads, bridges, water, and sewage) and were prepared to explain visually a local problem connected to each.
- Manufacturing Design — This technical engineering and design challenge required teams to plan, design, build, and test a piece of equipment that will meet specific criteria.
- Service Tech Simulation — Teams repair a piece of equipment using technical drawings, schematics and technical support.
Appraisers drawn from the local construction industry judged each activity. Teams that qualified to advance to the National Finals in Knoxville, where they will compete for scholarships and other prizes, are as follows:
- Middle School (only 1st place advances) — Frontier Junior High School; Graham, WA.
- High School — Meridian High School; Bellingham, WA, first; White Swan High School; White Swan, WA, second; and Puget Sound Skill Center; Burien, WA, third.
In 2008, Construction Challenge won the Outstanding Achievement in Innovation in Business Solutions Award from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events. The IAEE award recognizes achievement in the creation of new and innovative business solutions.
Breakdown of Challenge winners:Junior High
Challenge 1 ~ Infrastructure Presentation
1st Frontier Junior High; Graham, WA
2nd Chief Kanim; Fall City, WA
3rd Cedarcrest Junior High; Spanaway, WA
Challenge 2 ~ Manufacturing Design
1st Cedarcrest Junior High; Spanaway, WA
2nd Frontier Junior High; Graham, WA
3rd Chief Kanim; Fall City, WA
Challenge 3 ~ Service Tech Simulation
1st Chief Kanim; Fall City, WA
2nd Frontier Junior High; Graham, WA
3rd Cedarcrest Junior High; Spanaway, WA
High School
Challenge 1 ~ Infrastructure Presentation
1st Independent Home School Guild; Woodinville, WA
2nd White Swan High School; White Swan, WA
3rd Meridian High School; Bellingham, WA
Challenge 2 ~ Manufacturing Design
1st Meridian High School; Bellingham, WA
2nd Northwest Career & Technical; Lakewood, WA
3rd Sno-Isle Skill Center; Everett, WA
Challenge 3 ~ Service Tech Simulation
1st Puget Sound Skill Center; Burien, WA
2nd Meridian High School; Bellingham, WA
3rd White Swan High School; White Swan, WA
