SAD 32 attends craft event

    AUGUSTA – On Friday, Nov. 21, Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine (ABC) and the Downeast Construction Education Foundation (DCEF) hosted the 9th Annual Craft Championships at the Augusta Civic Center. More than 1,200 high school students and instructors were registered to attend.     The Craft Championships present high school students with an informative look at all the exciting opportunities Maine’s construction industry can offer. Students interact with real construction industry professionals at 32 hands-on activities and competitions including welding, wiring, rigging, plumbing, pipefitting, tiling, setting concrete forms, building brick walls and many others.  
    Representatives from Maine’s community colleges were available to meet with students about continuing educational opportunities in the construction trades as well.
    A total of 28 schools were registered to attend, including one local high school, Ashland Community High School.
    Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national association representing 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 79 chapters across the United States. ABC’s membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry. The Maine Chapter, a member of ABC National, has a strong and active membership, representing 170 member firms throughout the state.
    The Downeast Construction Education Foundation is a charitable trust established by ABC to help career and technical education institutions educate Maine’s next generation of construction craft professionals by promoting creative opportunities for educators to meet the needs of the construction industry and assist people within the industry to enhance their skills.