Courtesy of the Construction Challenge

Slideshow: Local team competes in construction challenge

SALISBURY, N.C. -- A team from the Rowan-Salisbury school system spent the week in Las Vegas competing against students from around the country in a construction challenge sponsored by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

They debated on ways to improve the country's aging infrastructure and used their own equipment they built in competition.

They didn't take home the top prize, but J.R.Poole from East Rowan High School won a $5,000 scholarship for his essay on why he wanted to work in manufacturing.

Roughly 17,000 people from around the country voted in the contest. Click here to read his essay.