Masonry Magazine October 2001 Page. 38
MAKING
GRADE
Student in the spotlight
Young Mason
Manages Heavy Load
Joseph McCoy of Cleveland, Ohio, is our Masonry Apprentice of the Month.
McCoy began developing an interest in masonry while enrolled in a high school construction trades program. After high school, he worked for a stone and marble company and began, he says, "to understand that there are different aspects of the masonry trade."
McCoy took the initiative to find out more. "I asked as many people as I could about bricklaying. I did some reading and research and found out about the Bricklayers' Union Apprentice Program (in Cleveland)." McCoy applied and was accepted.
For the past two years McCoy has been working for Giambrone Masonry while attending apprentice classes and taking college courses at Cuyahoga Community College. He plans to get a bachelor's degree in construction technology and eventually own his own company.
Of his family, McCoy says, "My Dad has supported me, guided me and pushed me to be better, smarter and educated in the trade. He's an inspiration to me."
Joseph McCoy, Cleveland, Ohio
Anthony McCullough, McCoy's masonry instructor for the Bricklayers Union Local #5 Joint Apprentice Committee, says of Joe, "He's the type of student that all instructors wish for -hard-working and humble. He is seriously pursuing a career path that he has carefully plotted for himself."
"While serving his apprentice program and working full-time, Joe has taken 19 college classes and earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. We're very proud of Joe," McCullough says.
In February of this year, McCoy represented Region 5 (Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia) in the International Masonry Skills Challenge Competition in Orlando, Fla. He placed second in the second year category.
NOTE: Joe was nominated by the Bricklayer's Joint Apprenticeship Committee of Cleveland, Ohio. If you have an apprentice mason to nominate, contact J. David Holt, c/o Holt Marketing Group, Inc., 1906 Swift, North Kansas City, MO 64116 or fax to (816) 842-9989.