Madison’s Joshua Atwell takes 3rd place in SkillsUSA nationals

MADISON TOWNSHIP — Joshua Atwell’s carpentry education began as a kid, tagging along with his father on job sites.

At ten years old, he tagged along as his dad helped build an addition to his grandparent’s house.

“I don’t know if I was helping, more like watching,” Atwell said. “But that’s a big part of it is observing and just looking at how things are done.”

Atwell’s keen eye paid off last month, when the 19-year-old took third place in the carpentry competition at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta.

Atwell qualified for the competition through top performances at the regional and state level during his senior year of high school. He graduated from Madison Comprehensive High School in 2024, where he was enrolled in the carpentry program.

Jacob Grove, Madison’s director of career technical education, said Atwell isn’t Madison’s first national qualifier, but it’s not common for students to advance to Georgia, let alone bring a medal back with them.

“I don’t know of anybody within carpentry that has advanced to nationals, let alone placed,” he said. “For him to place third at nationals is a very, very big deal for the program and for Madison.”

During the competition, the top 50 student carpenters from across the country had eight hours to construct a miniature house, about four feet tall, based on a provided set of blueprints.

Grove said the blueprints are designed to showcase a wide variety of skills within the industry.

According to the SkillUSA website, competitors must frame walls using wood and/or steel studs, cut and install rafters, gable end overhangs, fascia board and soffit installation and install sheathing and/or exterior siding and trim. Students must also demonstrate their knowledge of stair construction. Competitors are be judged on accuracy, their ability to read and interpret blueprints, workmanship, safety and the proper use of tools, equipment, and materials.

Family, teachers and coworkers all helped Atwell sharpen his skills

Atwell credited his dad Phillip and carpentry instructors Andy Wigton and Casey Perry for teaching him the basics. He also said getting to work in the industry as a high school student took his skills to the next level.

Atwell and his fellow carpentry students spent much of their junior year on job sites. A couple weeks into his senior year, he was approved for work-based learning, which allowed him to earn school credit for work a job in his field of study.

He went to work for Wigton, who had left teaching behind to focus on his business, Wigton Construction. After graduating from Madison, Atwell joined the company full-time. His coworker, Ervin Troyer, became his mentor.

“He’s really the guy that taught me most of what I know,” Atwell said.

Wigton described Atwell as a person who is willing to learn and try new things.

“You don’t have to show him two or three times how to do something,” Wigton said. “He’s always thinking of a new, faster way to do something. That’s what makes a good carpenter.”

Wigton said Atwell’s “it factor” lies in a combination of people skills and well-thought-out work.

“He thinks through what he’s doing,” Wigton said. “He plans ahead and he has really great vision.”

Atwell hopes to start his own company one day

In addition to participating in SkillsUSA, Atwell was a member of the varsity golf team and one of several valedictorians in the 2024 graduating class. His goal is to eventually launch his own construction company.

For him, the most rewarding thing about carpentry is seeing the finished product.

“You start on this messy site where it’s all muddy. Then you start seeing things go up, you look at it after a day, after a week. You can see how it’s getting bigger and coming together more,” he said.

“When you finally walk into the house or whatever project you’re doing at the end of the day and it’s finished, it’s really cool to see.”