Apprentice News

EIGHT TOP BOILERMAKER graduate apprentices from across the United States tested their skills during the 24th annual National Outstanding Apprentice Competition held at the Local 7 (Buffalo, N.Y.) training facilities in Orchard Park Sept. 25-29. Contestants competed in written and practical tests. They were graded individually and as teams from their respective geographic areas. Judges included veteran Boilermakers and contractor representatives.

Mike McMullin named first recipient

LOCAL LODGE 555 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) presented its first Mark Langan Apprentice Achievement Award to Mike McMullin Dec. 1, 2010. The award recognizes apprentices who demonstrate commitment to the Boilermaker trade. It takes into account volunteerism, attendance at union meetings, work ethic on the job, performance in apprenticeship school, and respect by co-workers.

Four-month job makes lasting impression on 2nd-year apprentice Lucas Faganely

LUCAS FAGANELY, a second-year apprentice out of Local 128 (Toronto, Ontario), spent this past summer as a member of what he calls, “the craziest television adventure crew in the world.”

L-502’s Nordstrom places second; Northeast contestants take team honors

GRADUATE APPRENTICE Michael Bogue, Local 7 (Buffalo, N.Y.), won first place at the 23rd annual Boilermakers’ National Outstanding Apprenticeship Competition, held Sept. 26-30 at Local 7’s training center in Orchard Park. Western States apprentice C. Eric Nordstrom, Local 502 (Puyallup, Wash.), took second. Team honors went to Bogue and Jeffrey Nasta, Local 5 Zone 5 (New York), representing the Northeast Area.

Northeast & Great Lakes

THE NORTHEAST AND Great Lakes areas held their 24th annual joint graduate apprentice competitions May 17-20 at Local 5 Zone 197 (Albany, N.Y.). The top two finishers in each contest will represent their areas in the national contest in Buffalo, N.Y., Sept. 27-30.

SIX GRADUATE APPRENTICES from two Florida lodges — L-199 in Jacksonville and L-433 in Tampa —– were among nearly 100 building trade workers honored June 4 in Jacksonville for completing their respective apprenticeship programs. Sponsored by the Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association, the event drew 500 union members and guests.

Jared Cloutier earns silver and gold medals in Canadian contests

JARED CLOUTIER, 22, a third-year apprentice out of Local 580 (Halifax, Nova Scotia), has been testing his welding skills in provincial and national contests, earning a gold medal at the Nova Scotia Skill Competition on April 29 and a silver medal at the Canadian Skills Competition in Waterloo, Ontario, May 21-22.

THE CANADIAN BOILERMAKER apprentice competition tests journeyman tradecraft. The contest begins with a six-hour written exam that includes about 300 multiple-choice questions drawn from the apprentice training curriculum, the Boilermaker Constitution, and local lodge bylaws. Curriculum-related content includes such topics as cutting and welding; hand and power tools; construction materials; metallurgy; blueprint reading; layout and fitting; math; rigging; and boilers, heat exchangers, furnaces, and tanks.

Brooks receives Industry Award of Excellence

ERIC HACHE, a Local 146 (Edmonton, Alberta) graduate apprentice, took top honors in the 2010 Canadian Boilermaker Apprenticeship Competition held at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton June 21-24. The announcement came during the awards banquet at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.

Office worker is NASCAR driver

DURING THE WEEK, Renee Dupuis can be found working away in the office of the Boilermakers’ Northeast area apprenticeship program in East Hartford, Conn. But on the weekends you’ll find her pursuing her 30-year passion as a championship-winning race car driver.