2025 Cabinetmaking Contest Results
April 18, 2025 9:55 pm Leave your thoughts
The 26th annual Texas SkillsUSA Cabinetmaking Competition took place in Corpus Christi at the American Bank Center, on April 3rd & 4th. A total of 24 students competed this year in the new combined HS/PS contest (20 High School, 5 Post-Secondary) in the largest single turn-out for the cabinetmaking competition in our 26 years of hosting the contest. So much interest in our contest meant that we had to move the contest to a large tent outside!
Materials for the build, tools, and prizes for the competition were generously donated by Texas AWI members and friends, including Dovetail Custom Wood & Metal, Phoenix Millwork, Hardwoods Inc., TWC Architectural Mouldings, Brazos Forest Products, The Wood Gallery, 3V Company, Wurth Louis & Co, Hafele America Co., Kreg Tool, Millennia Cabinetry, PDC, Sherwin Williams, Dixie Ply, and Grizzly Tools.
Pittsburg State University in Kentucky also provided additional scholarships for use in their one of their many industry focused programs.
Design – Videogame Cabinet
The design for the 2025 contest was inspired by a prior-year National contest design, as witnessed and described by Texas and NLSC Gold Metal winner, Hayden Clarke. Thank you, Hayden!
Birch plywood was provided by Hardwoods Inc. The Solid maple lumber was donated by TWC Architectural Mouldings. Dovetail Custom Wood cut the raw sheet goods to rough size and prepared the kits for each of the students.
Birch plywood was provided by Hardwoods Inc. The solid Maple lumber was donated by TWC Architectural Mouldings. Dovetail Custom Wood cut the raw sheet goods to rough size and prepared the kits for each of the students.
Each student/advisor team was given a list of prerequisites for the competition, like ability to safely use a Table Saw, Miter Saw, Rabbeting station, Pocket Screw jig, Cordless Drill/Driver. They also were given a list of hand tools to bring to the contest. New for this year was the integration of a Mortise and Tenon joint on the 5-piece door. This had to be demonstrated by hand with the use of a back-saw or pull-saw.
Shaper Origin
We were also honored and thrilled to host Ben Angerer from Shaper Tools. He provided an amazing demonstration of the Shaper Origin system for the TAWI members & judges, and contestants, as well as enabling the students to incorporate a small optional engraving into the top of the cabinet. We hope to be able to incorporate this awesome experience again next year!
Ready, Set, GO!
Ready, Set, GO!
The competition started off Thursday afternoon with a quick orientation, followed by a technical test of creating a cutbill from the provided drawing. Points were awarded for ensuring correct sizing and material specification.
Beginning early Friday morning after a safety discussion around each piece of equipment, the students began to transform their pile of rough cut components into a completed cabinet. The competition concluded at 2:45 pm. All students helped to clean up their spaces, while the cabinets were lined up for judging.
Some of the competitors found this year to be a challenge, while several others did very well with the design.
We had 6 Winners this year!
One student’s overall completion of the project pushed his work to stand-out above the pack. Congratulations to Leon Vargas, from Cleveland High School!
Left to Right: Jim Kollaja, 1st Place Winner Leon Vargas, Jeff Richard
This is Leon’s second time taking the first place spot on the High School Podium in the Texas state contest. He has now been awarded $3000 in scholarships toward further studies any Trade School or College/University, PLUS an additional $2000 scholarship if he chooses to attend Pitt State. Several new tools and reimbursement of expenses to attend SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC).
He is a hard worker with a great attitude and work ethic. With a little luck, we’re certain he will stand proud on the National SkillsUSA podium in Atlanta and continue the Texas winning streak as a leader for Cabinetmaking & Career Technical Education.
Thank you!
A very special thank you goes to Dewalt Power Tool Group, for providing the additional cordless power tools on short notice, as well as the College level 1st and 2nd prizes this year.
Thank you to the students, advisors, volunteers and TAWI members for making this event a success! We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2026!
Congratulations to the winners and Thank You for showing us your Skills!
You are truly ‘Champions at Work’.
Categorised in: General Meetings, News
This post was written by Jeff Richard