Every year for the past 55 years the IBEW 7th district partners with the NECA 5th district to host an inside apprentice contest, the 7th District Apprentice Contest! This year, they are hosting it in Phoenix Arizona.
It’s an eight-hour competition, which combines a written test of electrical theory and code with practical hands on tasks, like complex motor controls and the energizing of three phase buck boost transformers.
Who emerges victorious? Watch now on IBEW Hour Power!
To download this video, click here.
7th District Apprentice Contest
Gary Buresh: IBEW International Representative
“This year we have 17 contestants, and this group is probably the most talented. We say that every year but these are the best of the best, the cream of the crop. We are training the best electricians in the world.”
J.T. Osborn: Southern Region Field Rep for NECA & Contest Co-Chairman
“We are always in a competition in our market place. We are constantly striving to demonstrate that we offer the best product in the electrical industry and the greatest value.”
Gary Buresh: IBEW International Representative
“We are in a competitive world, you look at our COE program, be the best be the best, well this showcases this and this helps promote and push that in a positive manner.”
Each participant has been selected by their JATC to represent them and must be in their final year of training.
Nicholas Yukar: 5th Year Apprentice, IBEW Local 60
“It’s a big opportunity, you show people how determined you are and how much drive you have and you need to do it because people notice.”
Michael Taylor: 5th Year Apprentice, IBEW Local 570
“It feels good. You pretty much have to be the best one in your apprenticeship class to come out here so it’s pretty cool that I got to come.”
Kenny Payton: 5th Year Apprentice, IBEW Local 584
“It’s a great honor, there was a lot of talented guys in my class anyone could have won it, it’s a really big honor for me and my family.”
Now that you have been selected fro your Local, time to see if you have what it takes to win the competition! It’s an eight-hour competition, which combines a written test of electrical theory and code with practical hands on tasks, like complex motor controls and the energizing of three phase buck boost transformers.
Daniel Alvarado: 5th year Apprentice, IBEW Local 716
“The hardest part was interpreting the motor control text, I would say not so much that there’s ambiguity but you have to read it, figure out what they want, while applying that you need to realize it has to function a certain way without too much detail.”
David Coffey: 5th Year Apprentice, IBEW Local 1141
“The transformers questions posed difficulties because you can’t test them out like you can motor. You know when you leave motor control it works or it doesn’t work, the transformer you don’t energize so you don’t know if it works or not.”
Matthew Gurrslin: IBEW Local 520, Winner
“I was a little nervous to began with but then I sat down and worked on the board but it felt like just a day at work. The toughest part for me was figuring out which way the buck and boost went.”
And with a final score of 22 in the written exam, 38 on Code questions and 100 on practical….Matthew Gurrslin from Local 520 is our winner!
Matthew Gurrslin: IBEW Local 520, Winner
“My job is to solve the problem that is provided and I just did that. There was a lot of great electricians today and I respect all their accomplishments and I’m just glad to be included among good company. Every day I’m honored that I get to provide my wife with a paycheck. Every day my goal is to make my wife and children happy and do the best for my local, my community and the IBEW in general.”
Win or lose, just being there and being able to compete against the best in the country was an accomplishment for everyone.
Daniel Alvarado: 5th year Apprentice, IBEW Local 716
“It opens up a lot of doors. I was pretty low profile at school and suddenly everyone wanted to meet me. I would tell everyone else take the classes seriously, try your best, prepare, and when the time comes around you will be prepared.”
J.T. Osborn: Southern Region Field Rep for NECA & Contest Co-Chairman
“These apprentices will not only be the next generation of journeyman but supervisors, project managers, estimates and hopefully NECA contactors down the road. We certainly welcome other districts to take on the challenge, I’m sure we could challenge others to pick up the gauntlet and make it a regional or national contest. That would be outstanding.”
For IBEW Hour Power I’m Matthew Walton.
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