Andrew Campbell won the gold award in carpentry at the 2025 SkillsUSA Championship held in Atlanta, June 23-27.
The following article originally ran in The Pilot on Aug. 8, 2025. Shared with permission.
Swinging a hammer and sawing boards comes naturally to Andrew Campbell. A sixth-generation carpenter, the 2025 Union Pines graduate put his construction knowledge on full display to secure top honors in his field at the North Carolina SkillsUSA Conference. He followed up that win earning the gold award at the SkillsUSA Championship, held June 23-27, in Atlanta.
SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization for students in middle and high schools, and college, in hands-on competitions using industry standards in more than 130 occupational areas, from 3D animation to welding. Over 6,800 students competed this year at the Georgia World Congress Center and State Farm Arena in 114 events. North Carolina students brought home 78 medals, second only to Texas in overall winnings.
Campbell said being called up on stage in front of a crowd of more than 20,000 was “all a blur.” He had thought he might have placed second or third, at best.
“Me and my dad cried in each other’s arms. It was a good moment and we feel like we made history for Moore County, but it was also a family moment. I was celebrating with the guy who taught me how to do it.”
In addition to his father and fellow carpenter, Domonic Campbell, he was accompanied to the national event by Union Pines carpentry teacher William Garner. Moore County Schools provided financial assistance for entry fees and the NC State Building Association also provided funding to cover meals and trip costs.
Campbell said he is grateful for the support but would like to see more emphasis and pride in students who pursue the trades. He was recently recognized in social media posts by Moore County Schools, but was disappointed that his state gold award was not announced during his high school graduation.
“You see the schools pushing sports and academics, but they also really need to push that there are kids who are out there building things. The trades are going to be the trick in the next few years so let’s step up as a county and do a better job,” he said.
His own future plans include jumping right into business. Campbell is working full-time with his father’s homebuilding and remodeling business. He also is starting up his own carpentry and excavation business with a friend.
“The last two weeks have been the biggest in my life, work wise. Growing the business is the next step and then getting my general contractor license.”
As a generational carpenter, Campbell said his grandfather was the first to settle in Moore County, in Carthage. His father owns Domonic Campbell Construction, which Andrew expects to take over in a few years. While a student at Union Pines, Campbell completed trades classes in Core and Sustainable Construction, and Carpentry I and II. Through the Sandhills Promise program also completed Plumbing I and II, and Electrical I at Sandhills Community College prior to graduating from high school. This additional coursework in the trades provided him with a broader understanding of construction practices.
“I enjoy carpentry the most because you get to change things for the better. You make a customer’s day and see their happiness from taking something they had dreamed of to making it happen. That is just a good feeling,” he said.
In the 2025 North Carolina SkillsUSA Conference, the carpentry event required students to build a platform, three walls and a set of stairs. They were limited to 2.5 hours, so when the time was up, they were judged on what they were able to complete. Campbell won fourth place in the 2024 conference before winning gold this year.
The national SkillsUSA Championship carpentry event was an all-day competition to build, in Campbell’s words, “A house cut in half.” The finished product included four walls, a sloped roof, a secondary roof and dormer, and a doorway. The students were given eight hours to work, with a one-hour lunch break.
Two days prior to “build day,” Campbell said they were given 15 minutes to review plans, but no phones or note taking was permitted.
“My approach is I told myself to focus on the shapes. Where are the slopes? Where are the angles at? I am good with square framing but I needed to study where the angles would fall, so I would have an idea of what I needed to do. Every roof is different.”
The project called for a 9/12 main roof and 6/12 roof where the dormer was located. Campbell said that was important to consider when cutting his boards, so that both angles were integrated. The competition was stiff with 49 other carpenters vying for top honors.
“It was very much of a mind game,” Campbell said. Following his 15 minute plan review, he sat down and came up with a timetable and broke the project into phases for where he would need to be at certain times of the build day to stay on track. “It felt like everyone came out swinging and people were just throwing stuff up. For me it was just the consistency of slowly and steadily pulling past them. When we hit lunch, I knew I was one section behind in my game plan and that I really had to turn it up on the speed and get after it. As soon as the lunch bell rang, it was a sprint!”
Interestingly enough, while he built the miniature house on Thursday he had to take it back apart on Friday, which was included in the scoring process. After finishing the task, Campbell realized he had not used to correct materials in the roof rafters in building the dormer. He figured he’d blown his chance at the top award.
“You don’t know how well you did until you get called out that night on this huge stage with huge lights. It was crazy to see. When they called my name, my heart sank. I was like ‘Whoa!’ I couldn’t believe it.”
His teacher William Garner was standing next to the stage and captured the moment.
“I first met Andrew when he was a freshman in high school and he was driven then. He always knew what he wanted to do. I learned more from him than he ever learned from me, he says. His only advice ahead of the competition was telling Campbell to carefully review the project plans before he started working. “He did that and took his time and read through everything.”
“We are incredibly proud of Andrew’s achievement and the dedication he has shown to his craft,” Moore County Schools announced in a social media post earlier this week. “Becoming a national champion is a testament to his hard work, skill, and passion … Andrew stands as a powerful example of what the skilled trades can offer — not just as a career, but as a calling that builds homes, strengthens communities and shapes lives. His greatest hope? To see the trades continue to grow and thrive right here in Moore County Schools.”
Coincidentally — perhaps fittingly — Moore County Schools welcomed the inaugural class of students this week to the Moore Innovative High School. Housed on the Sandhills Community College campus, the school will follow a model that addresses students’ high school requirements in their first two years. Technical vocational training will follow in years three, four and possibly five for those needing more specialized learning. This specialized curriculum is in addition to the robust career and technical education (CTE) programs already in place at North Moore, Union Pines and Pinecrest high schools. Currently, Moore County Schools ranks in the top 10 in the state for CTE credentials and certification attainment.
Contact Laura Douglass at (910) 693-2475 or laura@thepilot.com.
