Story and photos by Lily Jones, Rant intern
Lee County Schools hosted the 2023 Career and Technical Education competitions from Tuesday through Thursday at the Lee Regionals Fairgrounds. Students from Lee, Franklin, Randolph, Wake, Guildford, Columbus and Cumberland counties competed in events such as electrical wiring, masonry, and shed building.
The S.H.E.D. competition is the largest, a three day event where students work in teams to build a shed from the ground up. The contest was created by Connect For Success, with the purpose to encourage students to consider a career in construction.
After each event, the winning students receive tools and possible job and apprenticeship offers from local contractors.
“We hope these job opportunities help fill the labor gap one student at a time” said Billy Longson, a CTE teacher from Bunn High School in Franklin County.
Lee County also competed in the electrical wiring event, also known as the Volt competition, a program currently only offered in Lee County.