The local and regional competition was organized earlier this year throughout the United States and Canada. In the end, 30 apprentices - five from each of the union’s six districts - competed for top honors in welding, pipefitting, plumbing, HVAC service and sprinklerfitting. The final rounds were held Aug. 12-17 in Ann Arbor, Mich., in conjunction with the UA’s annual program to train its instructors.

The apprentices were tested with a wide variety of tasks designed to measure their specific craft skills, productivity and general knowledge. Independent judges and proctors monitored all the activities and jointly determined the winners in each category.

This year’s contest marks the first time the UA has held an apprentice competition in more than three decades, and the union will make it an annual event again.