Outreach Outlook: Celebrating CTE Month and the Madness of Masonry Words: Robert MelgaardAs we settle into February, the masonry industry turns its focus to a celebration that lies at the very heart of our mission: National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month.For the Outreach & Education Division, this isn't just a date on the calendar; it is a validation of everything we work toward. CTE Month is our opportunity to shine a national spotlight on the value of skilled trades, the educators who champion them, and the pathways that lead students from the classroom to rewarding careers. It is a time to advocate for the hands-on learning that builds our world and to remind communities across the country that masonry is a viable, sophisticated, and essential profession.Kicking Off with MomentumWhile February is the official month of celebration, our industry got a head start this January in Las Vegas. If you were with us at the World of Concrete, you know exactly what I mean. The energy was palpable, the attendance was strong, and the excitement for the future of our trade was impossible to ignore.Nowhere was this spirit more alive than in the Bronze Lot during MASONRY MADNESS®.A Showcase of Skill in the Bronze LotFor those who haven't experienced it, the Bronze Lot during World of Concrete is more than just a competition ground; it is the ultimate classroom and the biggest stage in masonry. It is CTE in action.We witnessed the best of the best go head-to-head in a series of competitions that showcased every level of our trade. The MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge highlighted the precision and dedication of our top apprentices, proving that the next generation of workforce talent is already here and thriving. We saw the future take shape in the Junior Bricklayer and Junior Block Layer competitions, where students, some competing on a national stage for the first time, demonstrated poise beyond their years.The intensity ramped up with the Fastest Trowel on the Block, a display of pure speed and efficiency, and culminated in the "Super Bowl of Masonry," the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500®. To see master craftsmen lay brick with such speed and accuracy is inspiring, but to see the crowds cheering them on like athletes changes the perception of what a career in the trades can be.From the Lot to the ClassroomThe events in the Bronze Lot serve as a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Every competitor out there started in a classroom or an apprenticeship program similar to the ones we support every day. They started with an instructor who saw potential in them and a curriculum that gave them the tools to succeed.As we move through National CTE Month, let’s carry the energy from Las Vegas back into our local schools and training centers. Let’s use the stories from MASONRY MADNESS® to inspire students who are just picking up a trowel. Let’s remind our communities that the path to the winner's circle, and to a successful life, starts with quality Career and Technical Education.Thank you to everyone who made World of Concrete a massive success, and to the educators who make CTE Month worth celebrating.Stay connected, stay inspired, and let’s keep building.About: Outreach Outlook
