Guest demonstrators give building trades students concrete education
Provided photos: Tony Harris Jr. (using the Darby Float), Erin Hofmeister, Tony Fazzolari (owner) and Anthony Incorvia worked together on a stamped concrete project.
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Recently students in Matt Anastasi’s Building Trades Program, at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, had some special guests in class.
Representatives from Solid Ground Concrete in Lockport came in to show the students how they do stamped concrete and give the students an opportunity to try their hand at it.
A concrete truck came to the back entrance of the class and students took turns wheeling the concrete to several molds that the company set up for them. Owner Tony Fazzolari, along with several of his employees, worked with the students on how to finish the concrete and then stamp it with a pattern. The finished products will be used around the Orleans/Niagara BOCES center.
“This was invaluable for my students,” said Mr. Anastasi. “I can teach them how to do concrete, but these guys do this every day, so they are experts. I think we need more opportunities like this to let the students see what kinds of careers are available to them and what it would be like to follow this career path.”
Mr. Fazzolari said the students did a great job.
“We are trying to give them a good idea of what is involved with pouring concrete,” he said. “I want them to know that sometimes you fight the conditions and the elements can make the process a whole different ballgame. It is very important to make the concrete perfect from the base up. People are paying top dollars for this so there is no room for error.”
Student Jeremy Ribbeck Jr. said, “I found this demonstration very helpful. I haven’t learned any of this stuff yet, so it was very informational to be able to work with it and have them show us their techniques.”
Pictured, from left: Austin Bellan (Medina), Noah Tillotson (Newfane), Erin Hofmeister (Medina), Tony Harris Jr. (Newfane), Jeremy Ribbeck Jr. (Newfane), Caleb Russell (Newfane), Tony Fazzolari (Solid Ground Concrete), Anthony Incorvia (Newfane), Bobby Heers (Newfane), George Schlegel (Medina), Ross Tetrault (Royalton Hartland) and Scott Zeitz (Newfane).
