Apprenticeship areas plan 2015 contests

Local 456 will host national event

U.S. AREA APPRENTICESHIP committees have scheduled competitions for 2015. The events will be held as follows: Western States, May 4-7, at the Local 101 Training Center in Denver; Northeast/Great Lakes, June 1-4, at the Local 154 Training Center in Pittsburgh; and Southeast, June 28-July 2, at the Local 456 Training Center, Rock Hill, S.C.

The Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Competition will be held August 30-September 3 at the Local 456 Training Center.

In 2014, 29 graduate apprentices tested their skills at the area level. The winner and runner-up from each area went on to compete in the national contest, held at Mississippi River District 5 in Slidell, La., September 7-11.

Competing from the Western States Area were Rudolph D. Barker Jr., Local 549 (Pittsburg Calif.); Kelly Granger, Local 4 (Page, Ariz.); Raymond P. Pendergast Jr. (Local 502); Sheridan Peralto, Local 627 (Phoenix); Jason M. Proctor, Local 92 (Los Angeles); Matthew M. Simpson, area winner, Local 11 (East Helena, Mont.); and Royce I. Thornton, area runner-up, Local 242 (Spokane, Wash.).

Great Lakes Area contestants included Max D. Bowers, Local 647 (Minneapolis); Jason Brozek, Local 1 (Chicago); Philip D. Klingensmith III, area winner, Local 85 (Toledo, Ohio); Lucas J. Litteken, Local 363 (East St. Louis, Ill.); James E. Noonan IV, Local 107 (Milwaukee); Willard J. Oyler, area runner-up, Local 169 (Detroit); and Jeff R. Spinks, Local 374 (Hammond, Ind.).

Competing from the Northeast Area were Joseph W. Amisson, area runner-up, Local 28 (Newark, N.J.); Arthur C. Kling III, area winner, Local 13 (Philadelphia); Dennis R. Mansbart, Local 5, Zone 5 (Floral Park, N.Y.); Justin P. Nadeau, Local 29 (Boston); James E. O’Rourke, Local 154 (Pittsburgh); and Ty C. Thoeny, Local 5, Zone 197 (Albany, N.Y.).

Southeast Area contestants included Tyler W. Armstrong, Local 455 (Sheffield, Ala.); Cory D. Bailey, Local 108 (Birmingham, Ala.); Cody A. Catlett, Local 45 (Richmond, Va.); Michael J. Hammer, area runner-up, Local 69 (Little Rock, Ark.); John M. Hill, Local 667 (Charleston, W.Va.); Jimmy W. Riley, area winner, Local 263 (Memphis, Tenn.); Steven M. Ryken, Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.); Colt J. Weatherspoon, Local 105 (Chillicothe, Ohio); and Christopher C. White, Local 40 (Elizabethtown, Ky.).

2014 AREA APPRENTICE COMPETITION RESULTS

GL Great Lakes
Robert J. McDonough/John T. Mooney/John H. Nooter Award
WINNER Philip D. Klingensmith III, Local 85
RUNNER-UP Willard J. Oyler, Local 169
WS WESTERN STATES
James F. Precht Award
WINNER Matthew M. Simpson, Local 11
RUNNER-UP Royce I. Thornton, Local 242
SE SOUTHEAST
Paul D. Wedge Memorial Award
WINNER Jimmy W. Riley, Local 263
RUNNER-UP Michael J. Hammer, Local 69
NE NORTHEAST
John Harrington Award
WINNER Arthur C. Kling III, Local 13
RUNNER-UP Joseph W. Amisson, Local 28