Making the Grade

Student in the Spotlight

Young Mason Follows in Family Footsteps

Ronald Yokimcus, Jr., of Finleyville, Penn., is our Masonry Apprentice of the Month. Yokimcus is a hard-working young mason who first learned the trade from his father and grandfather. Ron, Sr., is active in the trade, and Ron's grandfather is retired after 40 years in the trade.

"I've worked with my Dad since I was 9 years old when I started cleaning up his job sites. Dad bought me a level and taught me to lay my first brick when I was 13. I never really wanted to do anything else," Yokimcus says.

Yokimcus graduated from Ringgold High School and Mon Valley Career & Technology Center in Charleroi, Penn. He is a proud member of the Pennsylvania Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers Union #9 and works full-time for Marsa, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Penn.

Yokimcus earned third place honors in the secondary division of the national masonry contest held last summer in Kansas City, Mo., in conjunction with the Skills USA — VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

His instructor at Mon Valley, Jeff Yanits, says of Yokimcus, "Ron has excellent work habits. He maintained an 'A' average in school and was a member of the National Vocational Technical Honor Society."