Harris County honors students, teachers and contractors after regional skills competition success

Harris County Board of Education members on April 17 recognized Harris County High School students and teachers for strong showings at the West Georgia Skills Challenge and described local industry support for the district's career technical programs.

Superintendent Doctor Finney introduced representatives from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) and local contractors and said the program is a regional feeder into the construction trades. "Harris County High School Students dominated the West Georgia region," Zach, identified as executive director of the AGC, said. "That makes me especially proud." Mary Cawthorn, marketing director for Freeman and Associates, said the Nov. 14, 2024 event drew eight competing schools, 82 student competitors and 90 student observers and "was a huge success." She also said the hosts and sponsors provided more than $40,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to support students and the trade industry.

Why it matters: Board members and industry leaders said the skills competitions expose students to trade career pathways at a time when construction employers report shortages of qualified workers. The district and its partners framed the competitions as both workforce development and a way for students who do not pursue four-year college to access well-paying careers.

Details: The board and guests named several individual winners and contributors. Harris County students were listed among the event's top finishers: Courtney Brown (masonry champion), Lindsay Hair (carpentry champion), Colton Lehman (TeamWorks champion), Mary Weihauer and Garrett Mueller (second place, welding fabrication team). Other students from Harris County also competed across the state: Tucker Hippkis, David Gilbert, Duncan Johnson, Sincere Howard and James Rose. Board members acknowledged the contributions of contractors and organizations including Freeman and Associates, Batson Cook, Metro Power and AGC and thanked teachers Tracy and Howington for building the program.

Funding and next steps: Presenters told the board they raised slightly more than $5,200 for each of the district's construction and welding departments this year. The next regional skills competition will be Nov. 25, 2025, at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center, organizers said.

Reactions from the board: Trustees repeatedly praised the program as a pathway to careers and commended teachers and sponsors for supporting students. Several board members said the hands-on programs at the district's career-technical centers had helped students improve grades and discover career paths.

The board presented checks and posed for photographs with students and sponsors before returning to its regular agenda.