Front Row (LtoR): Joshua Allen of JG Tate Fire Protection Systems, Inc., Poway, California; Timo Broecker, Industrial Fire Sprinkler, San Diego, California; John Cowger, Rapid Fire Protection, Inc., Rapid City, South Dakota; Chance McCollister, Fire Tech Systems, Shreveport, Louisiana; Jonathan Henderson with Eagle Automatic Fire Sprinkler, Houston, Texas; Heman Mills, American Fire Protection Group, Jackson, Tennessee; Gregory Schneider, American Fire Protection Group, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Started in 1994 by the late Robert L. (Bob) McCullough, then chairman of the Education & Apprenticeship Committee, AFSA’s Annual National Apprentice Competition was created to promote apprentice training and give recognition to the apprentices who are actively enrolled in the AFSA Apprenticeship Program. Over 20 years later, the competition continues to bring fire sprinkler apprentices from AFSA local chapter and member training programs from all corners of United States together in the association’s foremost showcase of excellence in training among future industry leaders.