POST FALLS — As his former teacher, Gretchen Bell always had one hope for Mikey Chase-Braden: "To see him thrive.” 

When Chase-Braden first arrived as a student at Woodland Middle School, he was reeling from a lot of complicated transitions: going through the foster care system, moving from the state he grew up in and adjusting to a new life with his grandparents in Post Falls. 

Now a senior at Post Falls High School and a student at K-Tech, he has placed first in both regional and state construction technology competitions through Idaho State SkillsUSA. 

“We often look at the sports kids, but here he is. He’s creative, he’s artistic,” Bell said. “He really is so gifted.” 

Since Chase-Braden placed first in Boise, he will now compete in the national competition in Atlanta. 

“To get first two times in a row was definitely a surprise,” Chase-Braden said. "I’m excited. It’s a bunch of new experiences, and I haven’t really been outside of the Northwest area.”

He attributes his love of building and creating things with his hands to his family. He helped construct a shed in the backyard for the family’s motorcycles before he even started at K-Tech.  

“I kind of grew up around the industry. My dad, uncles and everybody was in the industry,” Chase-Braden said. “I like taking materials and building something good out of it.

“I have a super high drive to learn. I wouldn’t have to be the best, but to be able to have the skillset and knowledge to complete any task.” 

His knowledge served him well when he built a stick-frame house for the construction competition in Boise. 

The complete framing details and custom cutting of rafters made it a tricky model to design, but he came out on top with the best model. 

Bell is over the moon that his efforts and passion for building have been rewarded and can’t wait for him to fly on an airplane for the first time to compete at the national level. 

“He is living proof that students can find healing, purpose and direction through skilled trades like construction, even after the hardest beginning,” Bell said.

Bell has started a GoFundMe for Chase-Braden to attend nationals in Georgia.

    Mikey Chase-Braden is moving on in the national construction technology competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Chase-Braden is a senior at Post Falls High School and a student at K-Tech and won first place at the Idaho State SkillsUSA Construction Technology Competition in Boise.