---
title: Top Apprentices to Face Off In International Skills Contest
description: Skilled apprentices from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers’ (BACs’) will vie for the title of International Champion in their craft at the 2018 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest, October 5-7.
image: https://info.imiweb.org/hubfs/IAC-2018-floor.jpg
---

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# International Masonry Institute News

[October 04, 2018](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/top-apprentices-to-face-off-in-international-skills-contest)

[Leave a comment](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/top-apprentices-to-face-off-in-international-skills-contest#comments-listing)

[Apprentice Contest](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/topic/apprentice-contest), [Apprenticeship](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/topic/apprenticeship)

[APT Terra Cotta Restoration Workshop Positions IMI & BAC as Leaders in the Field](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/apt-terra-cotta-restoration-workshop-positions-imi-bac-as-leaders-in-the-field) [2018 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest Winners](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/2018-bac/imi-international-apprentice-contest-winners)

# Top Apprentices to Face Off In International Skills Contest

![31960667_2081890365159291_5937185004114149376_o](https://info.imiweb.org/hs-fs/hubfs/31960667_2081890365159291_5937185004114149376_o.jpg?width=500&name=31960667_2081890365159291_5937185004114149376_o.jpg)Skilled apprentices from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers’ (BACs’) will vie for the title of International Champion in their craft at the 2018 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest, October 5-7. 

Over 80 apprentices from 36 BAC Locals around the U.S. and Canada qualified for the contest after placing in regional competitions, showcasing the skills they have learned in through the union's apprenticeship training programs. To win at the international level, apprentices have to demonstrate mastery of their craft through quality completion of hands-on building challenges and written tests. 

First, second, and third prize will be awarded in 8 categories: brick, cement, tile, marble, terrazzo, plaster, pointing-cleaning-caulking/restoration, and stone.

Join us in congratulating the 2018 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest finalists! Check back here for updates during the competition, or follow along on social media at #ApprenticeContest.

![IAC-2018-floor](https://info.imiweb.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IAC-2018-floor.jpg?width=800&name=IAC-2018-floor.jpg)

Brick

**Lewis Armstrong**, *Local 05 OK/AR/TX – North Central Region*

**Alan Baggett, ***Local 09 WV – North Central Region *

**Corey Bennett*,*** *Local 21 IL – North Central Region*

**Ashley Bent*,*** *Local 08 NB – Canada*

**Max Berry**, *Local 07 CO – West Region*

**Tyler Chapala,** *Local 09 PA – Northeast Region*

**Francisco Chavez-Torres,** *Local 13 NV – West Region*

**Charles Coburn,** *Local 02 MI – North Central Region*

**Michael Debray,** *Local 01 SK –  Canada*

**Paul Deschiffart,** *Local 07 CN – Canada*

**James Fox,** *Local 08 WI – North Central Region*

**Thomas Fredericks,** *Local 01 PA – Northeast Region*

**Cody Grilz,** *Local 15 MO/KS/NE – North Central Region*

**Tyler Hack,** *Local 04 IN/KY – North Central Region*

**David Hansen,** *Local 21 IL – North Central Region*

**Adrian Kaminski,** *Local 05 NJ – Northeast Region*

**Mitch Kittinger,** *Local 55 OH – North Central Region*

**Dariusz Kurek,** *Local 21 IL – North Central Region*

**Eric Ligus,** *Local 09 PA – Northeast Region *

**Mason Lovell,** *Local 08 SE – South Region*

**Nick Mescall,** *Local 05 PA – Northeast Region*

**Cody Palmer,** *Local 01 PA – Northeast Region *

**Vincent Pierce,** *Local 01 CT – Northeast Region *

**Mike Roberts,** *Local 46 OH –North Central Region *

**Anthony Schurr,** *Local 02 WA/ID/MT – West Region *

**Troy Snyder,** *Local 02 WA/ID/MT – West Region *

**Tyler Zimmerman,** *Local 09 PA – Northeast Region*

# Cement

**Andrew Gifford,** *Local 19 WI – North Central Region *

**Trevor Harbin,** *Local 02 MI – North Central Region *

**Josh Hicks,** *Local 01 NL – Canada *

**Anthony Loria,** *Local 03 NY – Northeast Region*

**Shane Velie,** *Local 01 NY – Northeast Region*

# Marble

**Roberto Estrada,** *Local 13 NV* *– West Region *

**Ruben Herrera***, Local 13 NV – West Region *

**Luis Hinojosa,** *Local 03 CA – West Region *

**Thomas McAllister, III,** *Local 07 NY/NJ – Northeast Region *

**Ioannis Zorbas,** *Local 07 NY/NJ – Northeast Region*

# Pointing-Cleaning-Caulking/Restoration

**Matt Botts,** Local 01 OR *– West Region*

**Bruce Burroughs,** *Local 01 CT – Northeast Region*

**Jonathan Figueroa,** *Local 15 MO/KS/NE *– North Central Region **

**Noah Frazier,** **Local 21 IL – North Central Region **

**James Gauthier,** **Local 02 WA/ID/MT – West Region**

**Adam Hutchins,** **Local 01 CT – Northeast Region**

**Nathan Keating,** **Local 02 NY – Northeast Region **

**Melissa Manni,** **Local 01 PA – Northeast Region **

**Ryan Nichols,** **Local 15 MO/KS/NE – North Central Region**

**Michael Schmidt,** **Local 21 IL – North Central Region**

**Ebaristo Solorio,** **Local 03 CA – West Region **

**Karol Tabor,** **Local 21 IL – North Central Region **

**Victor Walls,** **Local 18 OH – North Central Region **

**Jake Wilde,** **Local 03 NY – Northeast Region **

**Artur Wilk,** **Local 21 IL – North Central Region **

**Anthony Williams,** **Local 03 MA – Northeast Region**

# Plaster

**Jose Ayala,** *Local 01 NY *– Northeast Region**

**Freddy Martinez,** **Local 56 IL – North Central Region **

**Casey Williams,** **Local 01 NY – Northeast Region**

# Stone

**Leonardo Bravo-Reyes,** **Local 01 MD/VA/DC – North Region**

**Alan Cole,** **Local 01 MO – North Central Region**

**Matt Ferguson,** **Local 01 PA – Northeast Region**

**Ben Shockley,** **Local 01 MO – North Central Region**

**Agustin Vaca-Suarez,** **Local 01 MD/VA/DC – Northeast Region**

# Terrazzo 

**Paul Boyadjian,** Local 21 IL **– North Central Region**

**Drew Hansen,** **Local 07 NY/NJ – Northeast Region**

**Manuel Lopez-Pineda,** **Local 03 CA – West Region**

**Randy Marcum,** **Local 04 IN/KY – North Central Region**

**Herman Murillo,** **Local 21 IL – North Central Region**

**Blake Price,** **Local 07 NY/NJ – Northeast**

# Tile

**Monte Arwick**, Local 15 MO/KS/NE **– North Central Region **

**Christopher Ellis,** **Local 02 WA/ID/MT – West Region**

**Demetria Garcia-Alvarado,** **Local 13 NV – West Region**

**Ian Higgins,** **Local 07 NY/NJ – Northeast Region**

**Nick Hudson,** **Local 03 NY – Northeast Region**

**Anthony Melicharek,** **Local 21 IL – North Central Region**

**Kurtis Moeller,** **Local 21 IL –North Central Region**

**Roberto Paniagua,** **Local 03 CA – West Region**

**David Perez,** **Local 03 CA – West Region**

**Michael Schwarz,** **Local 01 PA – Northeast Region**

**Jesse Stonehouse,** **Local 01 MN/ND – North Central Region**

**Joseph Tringali,** **Local 07 NY/NJ – Northeast Region**

**Neftali Vargas,** **Local 04 CA – West Region**

**Adrian Velasco,** **Local 04 CA – West Region**

Good luck to all our apprentices **–** the future of our union!

[Apprentice Contest](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/topic/apprentice-contest), [Apprenticeship](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/topic/apprenticeship)

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