The construction industry's future took center stage in Kissimmee, Florida, as Orange County Division of Building Safety inspectors swapped out their routine field inspections for judging roles in the SkillsUSA Florida Region 3 competition. Students from various construction disciplines, including framing and plumbing, were tested in a showcase of skill and trade savvy at Osceola Technical College on February 19.
SkillsUSA, a premier competition for America's career and technical education students, fields over 6,500 contestants nationwide and holds the title of one of the largest workforce development events globally, providing a platform for students to demonstrate their acquired knowledge in hands-on, real-life scenarios, and William Back, an inspector with a lifelong plumbing career, volunteered as a judge, bringing his experience to bear on the young competitors.
"I've been plumbing for my entire working career, and I am still very passionate about the trade," Back stated, as per an Orange County news release. He expressed his keen interest in assessing how the next generation sizes up, comparing hands-on learning with textbook education—suggesting that tactile learning often trumps the theoretical in both retention and practical understanding.
"During my judging role, I witnessed a few 'aha' moments, and you could almost hear the students say, 'That’s how it’s done.' This absolutely confirms to me that a well-taught lesson is well remembered, but a hands-on lesson makes more sense," Back emphasized, detailed by the county's news release, advocating for a blend of classroom instruction and in-field training that can solidify students’ readiness for the workforce, which was something also touched upon by fellow judge and inspector, Stephen Nagy, Jr., who has a heart for mentoring youths and observed not just skills but leadership during the event.
"I love kids, and if I can help and encourage even one young man on a positive path for the future, I am all in," Nagy stated in an interview with Orange County Newsroom while applauding one participant’s initiative as a distinguishing trait not often seen, "There was a young lady who took initiative and control of situations while everyone else waited to be told what to do. Again, that’s hard to come by these days, and she should be commended for that," said Nagy.
