NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Bridgestone Firestone Off Road Tire Company (BFOR), an operating unit of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT), is excited to work with the construction community to help students learn more about careers in the construction industry by sponsoring a high school team for the AEM Construction Challenge.

The Construction Challenge is an event developed by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) in partnership with Destination ImagiNation, Inc. to attract the best and brightest young people to professions in the construction industry ranging from manufacturing to in-the-field careers. The challenge will focus on three areas: awareness of construction-related jobs, construction equipment and manufacturing, and infrastructure awareness.

High school teams from across the United States and Canada can participate in the challenge to learn more about construction careers, infrastructure, construction equipment, creative problem solving and teamwork. The Construction Challenge includes six regional events to be held across the United States in January 2008. The winning teams qualify to participate in the Construction Challenge finals competition, to be held March 2008 during AEM's international CONEXPOCON/AGG exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The students must complete three different components to the challenge. The "Dialogue" portion consists of a research presentation and moderated discussion/debate on the relationships between infrastructure and quality of life.

The "Product Development" section requires the students to research, design and develop a new product. The final segment is titled "Road Warrior" and entails exploring infrastructure issues and implementing a solution with team created construction equipment.