Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Dothan Technology Center masonry students prepare for competition

Words: Jim CookFor Jakob Johnson, masonry is a family tradition.

Jakob’s father Robert Johnson is a mason, and Jakob is taking classes at Dothan Technology Center in the trade, hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“I go home and show him pictures of what we’ve been doing here,” Jakob said. “He’s proud of me.”

Jakob is among several DTC masonry students who will compete in the state Skills USA competition in Birmingham. The event offers competitions in various career technical skills taught in schools around the state.

Joc Carroll, DTC masonry instructor, said his students will compete in a variety of practical exercises, including building walls of brick and stone.

“It’s a lot of things they’d be doing in the real world as masons,” Carroll said.

The Skills USA event is a valuable experience for students because it gives them the opportunity to earn scholarships, connect with employers and interact with other students interested in masonry. Carroll said the competitive nature of the event pushes students to excel.

“We try to make it very challenging for them,” he said.

Steven Uhler, 17, is traveling to compete in the Skills USA masonry competition. Uhler said he enjoys masonry because it gives him a chance to work with his hands.

“I don’t like my hands to be clean,” he said. “I like them to be dirty. It represents my work.”

Uhler said the toughest part of masonry is making measurements and keeping work level. Uhler said he looks forward to the opportunity to compete against other students.

Jakob agreed.

“It makes me want to do better, to go in and prove myself and get a sense of satisfaction by being happy with what I did,” he said.
 0
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Technical Talks
Read More
Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Dawn Rogers
Industry News
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More