MUHSD students build toward bright futures with design build competition.
MUHSD students from Livingston, Atwater and Buhach Colony high school who are part of the Construction Trades Pathway were able to compete in the 2026 Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) Design Build Competition at American River College in Sacramento. During the two-day competition teams were given the task of constructing a 96 square-foot shed, complete with a floor, walls, roof and siding in 15 hours.
The high school students designed and built the structures and were judged on design, construction, quality, safety and teamwork. The purpose of the competition is to provide students with real-world experience, mentorship from industry professionals, and to promote careers in the trades.
“We designed our own shed,” said Atwater High Construction Trades teacher Dennis Friessen. “We did all the drawings and now they have to come out here and actually build what they created on paper.” Friessen’s team built the floor and framed the walls on the first day and spent the second day constructing the roof and installing the siding.
It’s an opportunity for the students to apply the skills and knowledge they’ve been learning in class to a hands-on competition. “We got to work together and communicate to make sure things get done in an orderly manner,” said Buhach Colony sophomore Dallas Trujillo, who works through the Atwater High pathway. “We need to make sure that we're all staying safe and we're staying hydrated and we're having a good time out here. To be able to come to a competition like this, I feel really blessed. I feel like it's a great opportunity not a lot of kids get this opportunity. I'm very glad that I can be here with my friends and work on something like this, and to be able to do this through the school, it's really great.”
Frieseen’s team participated in a similar competition a few weeks ago in Caruthers. Livingston High Construction Trades teacher Manuel Murillo has taken time on Saturdays working with his students. “We prepared by understanding key concepts as far as the structural build, whether it was a roof, the walls, or the floor systems. So students had to be able to identify the different cuts and measurements of the structure. Again, they had to know different types of components per system. Outside of that, it's just being able to work together.”
Livingston’s team won a Team Safety Award for their project. “The recognition was awarded for our team’s commitment to safe work habits throughout the competition, including proper PPE use, jobsite awareness, teamwork, communication, and overall professionalism while building their shed during the 2-day competition,” said Murillo, whose team was awarded $1,000 for the safety recognition. Livingston student Xavier Lucas says it was rewarding to be able to represent his school against so many teams at a big competition. “I’m proud to come out here and show that we can do the work,” Lucas said. “We’re getting a lot of experience that we can hopefully bring back. We want to get more students to come out and continue doing this.”
Trujillo says he was proud of the work he and his team did in the two days. “I think we're doing really great,” he said. “Looking around, I see a lot of nice designs, but looking at ours, I'm very proud of how far we've come. From where we started and where we are today, we've been to a couple of these competitions, but I like where we're going. I like how fast we do things, how we communicate, and I'm proud of my team.”
Murillo says it’s awesome to see his team of 12 students take what they’ve learned and apply it to a project like this.There are 112 students in the Livingston Constructions Trades Pathway. ”It brings me great pride to see them pick up some skill set that for one, it's recognized not only by an education, but by the people who put on these competitions, like all the mentors and the companies involved in this foundation with the CIEF,” Murillo said.” But for me, it brings me great pride, understanding that each student is meeting a level and mastering a skill outside the classroom. I think that's what's key for us, being able to apply the classroom stuff to outside actual work and application.”
Friessen agreed. “It lets you know you're successful,” he said. “I have one four-year student and three three-year students out here, and to watch them grow from the first day they've been in my classroom is amazing. I know they're going to be able to go out after high school and be able to be employed gainfully somewhere, if they choose to go into construction. If not they know what work ethic is now.”
Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.