For Immediate Release

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jessica@jgpr.net

Greater Lowell Tech Student Places 3rd in Trowel Trades Competition

TYNGSBOROUGH — Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola is pleased to share that a Greater Lowell Tech senior placed 3rd in a trowel trades competition Wednesday.

Masonry students from seven career technical schools competed against each other Wednesday at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School. Organized by the Massachusetts Trowel Trades Association, the competition tests students’ abilities to complete masonry challenges in a set amount of time.

“Today is all about the camaraderie between students and having fun,” said Jay Foster, a masonry instructor at Greater Lowell Tech. “These are real world projects and students are working at the same pace they would if they were on a job site. So it’s a great opportunity for kids to practice the trade.”

Masonry, also known as trowel trades, can be seen in office buildings, homes, schools, factories and municipal buildings. The work involves block and brick laying, tile setting, concrete finishing and stone setting.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors competed individually at the event in a traditional block and brick masonry competition, where they were tasked with building a wall.

Students from all three grades also competed in teams of three in a hardscaping competition, during which they laid paving stones, designed and built a retaining wall.

In both competitions, first, second and third place winners received plaques and tools donated by school and industry partners.

Jeremy Buchoon, a Greater Lowell Tech senior, came in 3rd place in the “block and brick” masonry competition. Nine students from Greater Lowell Tech competed in the competition, and three students from the school helped during the event.

“I put in a lot of hard work and tried to get it done as best I could,” Buchoon said. “It was very fun, very competitive. I only got a second to look around–it was really fast paced.”

Other participating schools included Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, Essex Tech, Greater Lawrence Tech, Shawsheen Valley Tech, Bay Path Regional Tech and Montachusett Tech.

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