White Mountain Home Builders offers contest for students

The White Mountain Home Builders and Remodelers Association is holding a building contest, created as an educational experience for students between the ages of 15 and 18.The contest offers an opportunity for students to test their abilities in many fields, such as creating a building plan, fund raising, negotiating, cost analysis and budgeting, designing and conceptualizing. They must demonstrate time management, project management, leadership and organizational skills while practicing proper use of building supplies and tools, and completing a written presentation of their project. This will be a great challenge in preparation and awareness for community involvement, business ventures, teamwork development, and creative abilities.The "Project Manager Building Contest" has two sections to it. One is the actual building. Students will be required to build an item that follows the home, garden and flower theme (garden bench, arbor, bird house, planter, night stand, coffee table, bookcase, etc). They will receive points for creativity, quality of materials, workmanship, level of challenge, and design.The other is a presentation of the project from beginning to end. The students will be required to turn in a written presentation explaining the procedure and stages of their work. The format and style of this presentation is totally up to each entry but students must remember they will gain or loss points based on the effort and content of this written piece. Some of the required content of the presentation should include: how they raised their $25 entry fee, why they selected to build what they did, an overview of the project, an itemized list of materials, a graphic drawing of the project, their budget, a list of tools and equipment used, photos, the most important lesson gained from their mentor, and a summary of the benefits gained from the experience. The guidelines and qualifications are very basic. Students must be enrolled in school and be between the ages of 15 and 18. They can enter the contest as a solo or a team of up to three. Their first task is to raise their $25 entry fee, negotiate a mentor and a material sponsor and fill out their applications and mail in to White Mountain Home Builders and Remodelers Association before March 21. The entry must be completed for display and judging by May 17 for the Dickson & McGonigle Fryeburg Home, Garden, & Flower Show at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds May 18-20. There will be a ballot box for the public to vote on their favorite item, and the people's choice will again be worth additional points in the contest. An educator from Fryeburg Academy and one from Kennett High School will be among the judges, along with two highly qualified members of the building industry. The winners will receive $200, $100 and $50 for first, second and third place, respectively. All participants will receive certificates of participation and accomplishment as well as much publicity.There will be a silent auction at the home show of all the projects built. Bidding starts on May 17 at the fairgrounds and continues until 4 p.m. on May 20.Applications can be picked up at Kennett High School, Fryeburg Academy, Chick's Home Center or Silver Lake Home Center, or contact Donna Woodward at (207) 935-3959 or go to the www.WMHBRA.com for more information.The White Mountain Home Builders and Remodelers Association is dedicated to the evolution and continued growth of the building industry and building a positive image. Part of the mission of the association is to benefit the trades through education and scholarships. All money raised, as a result of this project, will go to providing affordable housing, furthering educational programs, and scholarships for the building trades.