Blum, Kreg, Wurth Louis and Co., and other companies showed their support for industry education activities by contributing more than $6,000 in tools, supplies, gifts and prizes to the 2012 SkillsUSA California State Cabinetmaking Championships, held April 14 in San Diego.

A total of 27 students from 10 schools across the state competed for medals, prizes and the opportunity to represent California at the national championships. Cabinetmaking students were challenged to build a two-foot tall cabinet utilizing Blum hinges for the face-frame door and Accuride drawer slides for the drawer. A Blum hinge press, Bosch routers and Kreg pocket hole jigs were also employed. Students had seven hours to finish the project. Industry professionals served as judges using criteria such as accuracy of measurements and use of tools and machinery. The finished cabinets were then donated to San Diego Habitat for Humanity.

In the Introductory Woodworking event, students from high school programs built a tote tray using a jigsaw and basic joinery skills.

The top medalists in each contest received a Bosch router. All competitors received a “goodie bag” with Festool safety glasses, a Blum screwdriver, notepads and pens from Leggett & Platt, a tape measure and current copy of Woodworker West magazine and other useful items.

Gold medalists are eligible for a trip to Kansas City in June for the National Leadership & Skills Conference and competition, where they will pit their skills against students from all other states. Top-scoring national competitors will compete July 24-27 in Las Vegas at the WorldSkills Cabinetmaking Qualifying Trial at the AWFS fair and the winner of that event will go to WorldSkills 2015 in Madrid.

“We are grateful to all of our industry sponsors for their support,” SkillsUSA California state director Clay Mitchell said in a statement. “It is such encouragement to the students to have industry present, showing them that there are opportunities and that industry supports their hard work and goals.”

For information, visit www.awfs.org.