Several AWFS member companies donated products, tools and supplies to the SkillsUSA California 2016 regional and state woodworking contests. SkillsUSA is one of the leading career and technical student organizations, and the California state chapter is the 10th largest in the nation. Students compete in skill contests, where they learn about woodworking and cabinetmaking and follow projects developed by industry professionals.
Over thirty high school students from the Los Angeles region participated in the local contests in January. Royal Plywood of Cerritos, CA donated all material for both the regional and state contests, Blum provided tote bags, pencils, calipers and tape measures and Laguna Tool provided t-shirts.
In early April, nearly fifty students who earned the highest scores at their regional contests will compete at the state championships in San Diego to determine who will represent California at the National level. Blum has provided hinges and tandem drawer slides, West-Wood products donated drawer sides, jigsaws came from Rockler, Decore-ative Specialties contributed sample doors and drawer fronts, ESI has provided edgebanding, and drawer knobs and shelf pins come from Hafele. Colonial Saw introduced the students to the Zeta joinery system with a contest loan of three Zeta machines and a donation of Clamex connectors for the projects. “These contributions make this intensive contest possible! Our limited budget just isn’t enough to purchase items like these, so without industry support, we would have to run much less challenging and industry-focused contests,” says AWFS Assistant Education Coordinator Adria Torrez. The contests incorporate preparation of a bill of materials, material optimization, installation of hardware, application of edgebanding and decorative molding, and use of different power tools and equipment.
Industry professionals from Blum, Laguna Tools, and others volunteer as judges and coordinators for the contest. “We pride ourselves on running equitable but challenging industry-focused contests that prepare our students for the next level of competition and introduces them to skills that are important our industry”, says Cabinetmaking contest coordinator Saúl Martín, of Architectural Woodworking Company in Los Angeles.
Click here to see last year’s state contests. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Becoming a SkillsUSA partner means exposing your brand to woodworking students and teachers. If you would like to get involved, please contact AWFS Assistant Education Director Adria Torrez at adria@awfs.org or (323) 215-0311.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2016 SKILLSUSA CALIFORNIA CONTEST SPONSORS: