AEM, Construction Challenge Finalists Prepare for Vegas

Enlarge Image This group from Oak Ridge High School will advance to the finals in Las Vegas. Photo provided by AEM/AP. Photo by Wilford Harewood

February 14, 2008 • The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has named the 51 teams of finalists for its new teen-focused Construction Challenge and is now preparing for the finals at ConExpo next month. The final challenges will be held daily in the AEM booth, L 3224, located in the Grand Lobby between the North Hall and Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 11-15. Closing ceremonies will be held 9 a.m., March 14 at the Las Vegas Hilton Pavilion 1-3.

In January 2008, AEM and its Challenge partner, Destination ImagiNation, held five regional rallies during which 150-plus teams with more than 700 students competed to earn the right to participate in the finals. The 51 final teams come from high schools across the United States. They will compete in three challenge competitions that spotlight construction industry careers and the industry's positive impact on quality of life, such as safe roads and clean water.

 

The finalist teams are sponsored by AEM members and other industry supporters, who provided funds to help underwrite the cost of team participation in the finals. While at ConExpo, the students will be able to network with industry leaders and visit trade show exhibits. Winners in the Construction Challenge finals will earn scholarships and other prizes.

 

“We commend the Challenge sponsors' dedication to helping recruit the future construction workforce,” said Al Cervero, AEM senior vice president. “And, what better place than CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the industry gathering place, to connect these talented students with the very best in people, companies and products that the construction industry has to offer.”

 

At the finals, each team will compete in three challenges: Infrastructure Dialogue, in which teams discuss relationships between infrastructure and quality of life; Equipment and Careers Product Development, in which teams present resources or products they have designed to teach about careers in construction and construction equipment; and Road Warrior, in which teams explore infrastructure issues and equipment capabilities with team-created and built “construction machines” that must accomplish moving and lifting tasks.

 

To help support the challenge, an AEM Construction Challenge 5K Run/Walk is being held at ConExpo the morning of March 13, with proceeds to go to the Challenge scholarship fund. AEM is offering a special edition die cast machinery model prior to and during the show with a portion of proceeds to benefit industry workforce development initiatives, including the Challenge.       

 

Sponsors of the Construction Challenge include ACP/Reed Construction Data, American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, Astec Industries, Atlas Copco Construction Tools, Baum Publications Ltd., Bomag Americas, Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company, Case Construction Equipment, Caterpillar, Cummins, Cygnus, Ditch Witch, Gehl Company, Genie Industries, Gradall Industries, Granite Construction, JCB, JLG Industries, John Deere Construction & Forestry Company, Kobelco Cranes North America, Komatsu, Liebherr, Link-Belt Cranes, Manitowoc Crane Group, Metso Minerals, Miller Electric Mfg., MTU Detroit Diesel, Multiquip, NES Rentals, New Holland Construction, Power Curbers, Power Pavers, Sandvik, Stone Construction Equipment, Terex Corporation, Trimble, Volvo Construction Equipment, and Wacker Corporation.

 

Click here for a full list of the teams headed for the finals in Las Vegas.