20 students complete OTC masonry program

Twenty students have successfully completed Ozarks Technical Community College's first masonry program, according to a news release from the Missouri Concrete Masonry Council.

The 20 students 13 men and seven women each completed Masonry I, Masonry II and Masonry III courses. Masonry I provides a broad overview and technical knowledge; Masonry II focuses on concrete block and clay brick wall construction; and Masonry III concentrates on fireplaces, arches, corners and other specialty construction, the release stated.

The curriculum includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Prerequisites for enrolling in the masonry program are a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Each masonry course is worth three hours of college credit.

Each student received a $25 per course scholarship from the Missouri Concrete Masonry Council, presented by MCMC President Dale Kirchner, of Kirchner Block and Brick in Bridgeton, and Past President Chris Nattinger, of Nattinger Materials Company in Springfield, at a special luncheon in honor of the students, according to the release.

Nattinger Materials also provides concrete masonry products for use by the students, Acme Brick furnishes the program with clay brick and Lone Star Cement provides the masonry cement.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Pictured are members of the first class to successfully complete OTC's new masonry program, along with Dale Kirchner, MCMC president; Curtis Powell, masonry instruction; Chris Nattinger, MCMC past president; and John Davidson, division chair of construction technology at OTC.

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