Woodworker wins state Skills USA
BUTLER TWP — He's still a few months away from graduating high school, but Josh Carr has kept busy with working at a local cabinetry business as a paid student worker, as well as building customized furniture at his side business.
Carr said he became intrigued by carpentry because he was exposed to some of the skills as a child.
“When I was younger, my grandpa had a wood shop,” said the soft-spoken 18-year-old. “I hung out with him when he was in there.”
Last summer, perhaps as a token of his appreciation, he built a red oak bedroom set for his grandparents that included two nightstands, a chest of drawers and a dresser. He said it's the project he's most proud of to date.
The Knoch High School senior and third-year Butler vo-tech student also recently won the state Skills USA competition, besting about a dozen others from across the state in making cabinetry.
Skills USA has competitions in many vo-tech disciplines. Fifteen Butler vo-tech students in all competed at the state level.
In Carr's competition, he was given six hours of prep and building time to assemble a set of kitchen cabinets. He placed second in the state competition last year.
As a first place winner, he's heading to the national competition in Kansas City, Mo., this June, where he'll compete with high school-aged carpenters-in-training from all over the country.
“Josh is a very gifted and very talented young man,” said Joe Cunningham, Butler Vo-Tech director. “He has such an eye for detail. To be a good cabinet maker, you really have to be detail specific.”
Carr hopes to continue working for his current employer, but he aspires to have a business of his own someday.Scott McKee, vo-tech carpentry instructor, said carpenters are very much in demand locally.“We teach all the skills that go into building a house, but specialize in finish carpentry and cabinet making,” McKee said. “High-end quality is what we're striving for.”There are currently 28 students in the Butler Vo-Tech cabinetry program.At the state Skills USA competition, Mars student Matthew Napierkowski placed second in advertising design, Seneca Valley student Nathan Stiefel place third in sheet metal, and Seneca Valley student Sean Howley placed third in first aid and CPR.
