The Block Kids Competition is a national building program competition that is sponsored on local levels. Local winning entries advance to Regional Competition and on semi-finalist from each region in entered in the National Program competition.

The Block Kids Program introduces students in grades 1 thru 6 to the construction industry in an effort to create an awareness of and to promote an interest in one of the many facets of the industry. The program is non-discriminatory and as such is open to all elementary school children. All eligible students must participate through a recognized Sponsor.

The industry continues to face a workforce shortage that poses a serious problem for our national economy. NEF (NAWIC Education Foundation) encourages all chapters to sponsor this program in their communities.

The students’ have creative ideas and it’s great to see the various projects that they build with these plastic blocks, string, cardboard and aluminum foil!!! If your chapter has not sponsored a BK competition, why not make it happen this year.

Six chapters participated this year with over 400 students taking part:

            Salt Lake City #90
            Greater Phoenix #98
            Metro Denver #112
            Tucson #122
            Colorado Springs #356
            Western Colorado #359

And the winner is…….. Metro Denver #112!!! Norberto Guzman, a 4^th grader, designed a playground that included a covered bench for the parents to rest and a pond that even had a duck on the water! What an imagination!

National winners are:

            1^st Place – Jesse Beam, 5^th grade, Region 11, #121 Charlotte
            2^nd Place – Bailey Crum, 4^th grade, Region 5, #12 Greater Little Rock
            3^rd Place – Audrey Thomas, 2^nd grade, Region 2, #365 Northwest Georgia

Thanks to all for such great interest in this program to encourage our young students to look to construction for their career and to use this creative ability to enhance the future of our industry.