CONEXPO-CON/AGG Hosts Students

The Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers is holding its first construction competition for high school students, a series of regional contests that will wind up with the finals at AEM's CONEXPO-CON/AGG March 11-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The competition is intended to teach high school teams from the United States and Canada about construction careers, infrastructure, equipment, creative problem solving and teamwork.

Winning teams from each of six regional qualifying rallies held Jan. 12, each with 36 competing teams, have advanced to the Intl. Finals Tournament in Las Vegas. Sixty qualifying teams will compete for scholarships and prizes at the upcoming show, as well as get the chance to learn new skills and network with construction industry leaders.

Each team has between five and seven members, an adult coach (typically one of their teachers) and the support of their school administrators. AEM member-sponsors in their areas have supplied funding for travel, room and board for each team that advanced to the finals.

AEM Public Relations Director Pat Monroe said, “This isn't CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the tradeshow, holding the event; it's show organizer AEM, and doing it at the show since CONEXPO-CON/AGG is the industry gathering place for construction.”

Both the regional competition and the finals involve three events. First, in a debate-style format the students will be questioned on their knowledge of infrastructure issues relating to roads, bridges and clean water. Second, teams will have a limited amount of time to design, select construction materials, build and test a small-scale structure. Finally, teams will be asked to complete what is described as an equipment and career challenge.

AEM is not the only industry association that stages student competitions in collaboration with their tradeshow. The Intl. Textile and Apparel Assn.'s ITAA Annual Conference has a design exhibition each year, with the winning designs either used in a mounted exhibit or a live show. In addition, the AWFSFair and the Intl. Housewares Show have student design competitions.