ATLANTA -  WoodLINKS USA announced the student winners of the Ready To Assemble furniture competition staged at the International Woodworking Fair.

"Board of directors, staff, and friends of the program would like to thank everyone who supported the RTA contest financially, through donations, publicity, and participation," said Mark Smith, national education coordinator for WoodLINKS USA. "Their support of the WoodLINKS USA - IWF RTA Contest helped make it a great success."

More than $30,000 in cash and prizes was donated to the event, which is staged at each IWF. Judges this year were Catherine Helshoj of Laguna Tools; Duane Griffiths of Stiles Machinery; and Patrick Molzahn of Madison Area Technical College.

First prize  was awarded to Rolla Technical Institute students Zach Ludden, Nikki Look, and Lucas Shelton for a table they alled Travolo di Stiles. Their teacher is Robert Studdard. Prizes awarded included a TigerStop SawGear (SG08) measuring system valued at $2,695; a Graco Merkur ES Spray Package with G15 gun valued at $2,290; a Stiles/Ironwood JT300 jointer valued at $5,790; four gallons of Valspar finish and a gallon of stain, valued at $131; a Custom Service Hardware $300 Gift Certificate; and a FastCap $600 toolbox and tools for each student.

Second place went to the student team from Dale Jackson Career Institute: Jonathan Hamilton, Josh Stone, and Conner Goodson, who were coached by teacher Joe Davis. Prizes were a Fein MultiMaster FMM 250 Q Start valued at $199; a Graco Remote Pressure Cup with Airpro Gun, valued at $900; Valspar finish (three gallons) and stain (one gallon) valued at $106; a Custom Service Hardware $150 Gift Certificate; and FastCap $600 toolbox and tools for each student.

Third place was won for Kazumi, a project by Quinter High School students Kamron Broeckelman, Jesse Roesch, and Colton Corwin, coached by teacher Brian Roesch. Prizes for the group were a Fein MultiMaster FMM 250 Q Start valued at $199; a Graco AirPro Gravity Gun with plastic cup valued at $500; two gallons of Valspar finish and a gallon of stain valued at $81; a Custom Service Hardware $100 gift certificate; and a FastCap $600 toolbox and tools for each student.

Fourth place went to the entry Universal Light Bulb, from the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center team: Dustin Meadors and Shonque'l Betts, coached by teacher Clint Johnson. Their prizes were a Graco Finex Gravity Gun with plastic cup valued at $150; one gallon of Valspar finish and stain, valued at $56; a Custom Service Hardware $75 gift certificate; and a FastCap $600 toolbox and tools for each student.

Fifth place went to the Sub Roza Table, built by another team at the Dale Jackson Career Center: students Stas Karmalyuk, Matt Domagala, Chase Eller, Daniela Karmalyuk, and coached by teacher Joe Davis. Graco Finex Mini-Gravity Gun with plastic cup valued at $135; one gallon of Valspar finishvalued at $25; a Custom Service Hardware $50 gift certificate; and a FastCap $600 toolbox and tools for each student.

Contributing financially to the WoodLINKS USA RTA contest at IWF 2012 were:

Accurate Custom Cabinets, Accurate Technology, C. R. Onsrud, Inc., Great Lake Woods, the IWF Board of Directors, KCD Software, Kerfkore Company, Kremlin Rexson, Inc./Exel North America, Master Magnetics, Inc./Mod-eez, Modular Systems, Inc., ShopBot Tools, Inc., Stiles Machinery, Vortex Tool Company and Woodcraft Supply, LLC.

Donating prizes for the WoodLINKS USA-IWF RTA Contest 2012 were Chris Dolbow of Stiles Shop Solutions/Ironwood; David Newey of Valspar Wood Finishes; Frank Rasumussen of Custom Service Hardware; Linda Koval and Ken Gschloessl of Fein Power Tools, Inc.; Paul Akers of FastCap, LLC; Wendy Hartley of Graco Industrial Products Division; Paul Ackers-FastCap.

Industry sponsors who helped pay for students and teachers to travel to the IWF show included Accurate Custom Cabinets, C. R. Onsrud, Inc., Great Lake Woods, IWF 2012, KCD Software, Kerfkore Company, Kremlin Rexson, Inc./Exel North America, Master Magnetics, Inc./Mod-eez, Modular Systems, Inc., ShopBot Tools, Inc., Stiles, Vortex Tool Company, Woodcraft Supply, LLC and Accurate Technology.

WoodLINKS USA is a 501c-3 organization established to provide the Wood industry with the necessary skilled workers to remain competitive. WoodLINKS USA is the most complete educational support organization for the woodworking industry in the United States.

Its volunteers, teachers, and students are re-igniting a passion for woodworking careers, all across the country. The main office for WoodLINKS USA is located in Morris, IL. For more information, contact Patrick Molzahn, WoodLINKS USA President, at  [email protected] or 608.246.6842