Metro Tech students win top honors at OSU-OKC Construction Fair

Metro Tech students won several awards and gained hands-on career experience during the Annual Construction Fair hosted at OSU-OKC in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma City Public Schools. Metro Tech sponsors the event each year, but this year's attendance was expanded to include students from three career programs: Construction Trades, STEM Academy Pre-Engineering and Drafting Technician. Students and their teachers spent the day meeting industry partners such as Dolese, Oklahoma Department of Transportation and WarrenCat who used interactive displays to demonstrate career possibilities in the construction field.

Prior to the event each year, students are provided materials to build a bridge according to provided specifications and bridges are judged by industry experts during the Construction Fair. Winners were announced at day's end, and Metro Tech students won 12 awards in various categories.

Drafting Technician students:

2^nd and 3^rd in Best Overall Design Appearance/Storyboard

1^st and 3^rd place in Brute Strength

2^nd and 3^rd place in Structural Efficiency

1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in Best Overall

Construction Trades students:

3^rd place in Flexibility

Pre-Engineering students:

1^st place in Flexibility

Drafting Technician teacher Russ Powers said he was highly impressed with his team of students.

"Their teamwork and troubleshooting ability was impeccable. That alone was a win in my book, but I was happy and overly impressed with how well they placed. The wins were well deserved," he said.

Pre-Engineering and ASTEC Charter High School student Julio Gonzalez also won first place in the simulated welding contest out of hundreds of students who participated.

Metro Tech is an Oklahoma technology school that offers free tuition to Oklahoma City Public Schools, Crooked Oak Public Schools and Millwood Public Schools students. Full-time and part-time training is offered for adult students, as well as customized Business & Industry training. For more information (405) 424-TECH.