Making the Grade

Student in the Spotlight

Carpenter Turned Mason

High school graduate Zachary McMahon of Beverly, Mass., started out in carpentry, and now Zack is our Masonry Apprentice of the Month. He was nominated by his tech school instructor, Tim Lavoie, at North Shore Technical High School, Middleton, Mass.

"Zack came to school wanting to learn the carpentry trade. He soon recognized the challenges and the benefits of the masonry trade," Lavoie says.

"In class, Zack asks a lot of questions and always seems to be searching for more information," Lavoie continues.

Zack played football and baseball in high school and plans, he says, to attend the University of Massachusetts or Boston College in the fall.

"Even though there are no other masons in my family, my family influenced me greatly," Zack says. "They supported me and pushed me to be great in masonry."

Last summer, Zack participated in the national masonry contest held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA-VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo. He hopes to return to the national competition again this year.