The ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓSouthern California chapter hosted their 25th annual craft championships on Saturday Jan. 26, 2019. Along with the craft competition, there were over 500 visitors, 22 vendors, a nine-team chili cook-off, a high school visit with hands-on activities presented by chapter instructors and demonstrations from Job Corps and ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓSouthern California.

More than two dozen craft trainees and apprentices competed in residential electrical, industrial electrical and plumbing.ÌýAndrew Cruz of Champion Electric won first place in electrical-residential, Carlos Bencomo of Champion Electric won first place in electrical-industrial and Austin Dorati of Empyrean Plumbing won first place in plumbing. They will advance to the National Craft Championships in Long Beach, California, during ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓConvention 2019.

The top three winners in each competition received:

First place: $1,200 in tools, a $750 scholarship to the OSHA Institute and a voucher for a new pair of Iron Age work boots
Second place: More than $1,000 in tools
Third place: More than $800 in tools

All prizes and competitor giveaways were donated by chapter ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓmember companies.


From left to right: Andrew Cruz, Carlos Bencomo and Austin Dorati