ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9608010008
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
Derrick Tunstall began laying brick when he was about 12 years old. "I couldn't pick up a 5-gallon bucket of sand when I started," he says, "and it took two of us [his twin, Daniel] to carry a sack of mortar."
But the trade, which he says has been in his family since 1876, is one that agrees with him. He's one of three Roanoke Valley vocational students who won national top honors recently at the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America's Leadership Conference and Skills Championships in Kansas City.
Tunstall, 17, took third place in bricklaying. A junior at Northside High School, he's also a student at Arnold R. Burton Vocational School.
Jeremy Switzer, 16, of Fincastle took second place in custodial care, an improvement from last year's third place.
William Montgomery, 16, of Buchanan won second place in the building maintenance competition.
Switzer and Montgomery are students at Botetourt Technical Education Center - B-Tec - in Fincastle. Switzer is a sophomore at Lord Botetourt High School, and Montgomery a junior at James River High School.
Four of the six Virginia students who were first-, second-or third-place winners at the national conference attend schools in the district.
The other top winner in District VII was Marc Footen of Blacksburg, who took third place in automotive service technology.
"It is quite an honor just to compete at national," said Jim Bushong, B-Tec teacher, VICA District VII adviser and member of the National Conference Committee.
"Sometimes we focus on academic honors and overlook the significant achievement of vocational students," Bushong said. "VICA competitions provide a showcase for the best students in vocational and technical schools. "
Vocational students take basic classes at their local high schools, then move to a center serving several high schools for specialized training in specific areas.
Competition at the national championships in each of the 55 categories consisted of a written test and a practical skill exam. Working against the clock and one another, participants proved their expertise in their respective fields.
Switzer was tested on floor care (stripping and buffing of resilient flooring), general office cleaning, carpet cleaning, window cleaning, dispenser servicing and equipment and chemical identification.
Montgomery's building maintenance skills included repairing an electrical switch, trouble-shooting an electrical wiring problem, installing plumbing fixtures and constructing a small wall, from studs to drywall joint compound.
The bricklaying contest project was a brick and concrete block structure incorporating composite wall design, piers, soldier coursing and cavity wall construction. Judging was on the basis of the aspects vital to wall performance including plumb, full mortar joints and symmetric bonding.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN SPEARMAN/Staff. 1. Botetourt Technical Educationby CNBCenter winners William Montgomery (left) and Jeremy Switzer (right)
with teacher H. Frank Hall. 2. Derrick Tunstall of Salem is the
state's Vocational Industrial Clubs of America champion in brick
masonry. color.