Southeast Georgia AGC Skills Challenge draws more than 230 students to Bulloch County

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - More than 230 high school students from 26 Southeast Georgia counties competed Wednesday in the sixth annual Southeast Georgia AGC Skills Challenge at the Bulloch County Agricultural Complex.

Camden County High School wins cup

Competitors had two hours to complete their trade assignment. Judges scored each competitor’s work and combined the total scores for each school.

Camden County High School had the highest combined score and was the overall winner. The school took home this year’s cup.

The school’s TeamWorks crew won first place in its competition. The team included Bryson Bachhofer, Hayden Bishop, Caleb Cribbs and Dillon Murray. Bishop said the day started with nerves.

“You know the nerves settle, and just, play our game you know,” Bishop said.

Bishop said he knew only two of his teammates before the competition.

“I only know two of these guys standing next to me, and when Dillon came along it was like, you know gotta make a new friend, and I’m glad we did, I like him a lot,” Bishop said.

Organizers said a record number of girls competed this year. The event included an all-female TeamWorks group.

Winners by competition

Students competed in 11 trade-based challenges. A winner was named in each category.

Blueprint Reading

1. Dane Boggs, Lee County High School
2. Jackson Lewis, Statesboro High School
3. Olivia Hayward, Camden County High School

Cabinetmaking

1. Evan Moseley, Statesboro High School
2. Malhi Bowie, Camden County High School
3. Hayden Sole, Camden County High School

Carpentry

1. Keegan Powell, Metter High School
2. Jesse Newsome, Camden County High School
3. Brett Battles, Lee County High School

Electrical

1. Reagan Sams, Statesboro High School
2. Billy Newsome, East Laurens High School
3. Teagen Pilkerton, Camden County High School

Heavy Equipment Operations

1. Lucas Hankinson, Southeast Bulloch High School
2. Aron Garcia, East Hall High School
3. Gage Polan, Southeast Bulloch High School

Masonry

1. Justin Barr, Camden County High School
2. Michael Conley, Camden County High School
3. Luis Gerardo Henandez, Lee County High School

Plumbing

1. Hagan Rudolf, Lee County High School
2. Grayson Swett, East Laurens High School
3. Bryar Holbrook, Thomson High School

Roofing

1. Pedro Gonzalez, Statesboro High School
2. Sebastian Reyes, Lee County High School
3. Aubree Linn, East Laurens High School

TeamWorks

1. Camden County High School: Bryson Bachhofer, Hayden Bishop, Caleb Cribbs and Dillon Murray

Welding

1. Julian Gowen, Camden County High School
2. Nicholas Mixon, Golden Isles College & Career Academy
3. Hendryka Williams, The School of Liberal Arts at Savannah High

Welding Fabrication

1. Golden Isles College & Career Academy: Andrew Harrell, Jaiden Quinones and Alan Woodall
2. Liberty College & Career Academy: Konner Blanton, James Decker and Johan Nava

Competition doubles as job fair

Hosts said the competition also doubles as a job fair. Employers were on site, and partners said there is a place for the students in the industry.

Matt West, president of West Construction Company, spoke about careers in the field.

“It’s an incredibly rewarding career. To be able to know that you’re helping to build a school or a church or a hospital, or all the things that make our community great is a sense of gratification that you really don’t get in many other professions,” West said.

Prior to the event, West wrote that hosting the Skills Challenge Series is “an opportunity to support students as they discover the many possibilities a career in construction can offer.”

Zach Fields, CEO of AGC Georgia, calls Gen Z the “toolbelt generation.” He said the students’ passion shows why teens should help shape their own future.

“You need to try things out to see what you like or what you’re good at, or what you might gravitate towards, and so the earlier we can start that career exploration process the better,” Fields said.

Next steps for winners

Wednesday’s qualifying individual winners can compete in the statewide contest. If they stay on top there, they will advance to nationals.

Students who are members of SkillsUSA Georgia and compete in Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, Plumbing, TeamWorks, Welding and Welding Fabrication are eligible to earn a bid to the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Competition. That event will be held March 11-13, 2027, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

About the series

The Southeast Georgia Skills Challenge is one of eight regional events held throughout Georgia. The events will host over 2,300 students from over 100 schools, the news release said.

Students from construction programs in the following counties received priority registration: Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne and Wheeler.

More information about Skills Challenges is available here.