Western States holds 20th apprentice competition

Seitz wins first place, Baker places second

Leo Seitz, right, and Thomas Baker accept the first- and second-place awards in the Western States apprentice competition May 7.

LEO SEITZ OF Local 11 (Helena, Mont.) won the James F. Precht Award as the top apprentice in the 20th annual Western States Area Outstanding Graduate Apprentice Competition held May 6 and 7 at Local 4 in Page, Ariz. Seitz also received the Greg Streblow Scholastic Award.

Thomas Baker, Local 92 (Los Angeles), placed second in the competition; Aaron Dirks, Local 4, placed third. The 2007 Don Lacefield Local of the Year Award went to Local 502 (Tacoma, Wash). All eight construction lodges in the Western States area participated in the event.

Other participants in the two-day event included Blaine Alcott, Local 4; Maiss Bigham, Local 101 (Denver); Lorenzo Morales, Local 182 (Salt Lake City); Aaron Dirks, Local 242 (Spokane, Wash.); Richard Kainu, Local 502; and Bo Fish, Local 627 (Phoenix).

The Western States apprenticeship staff organized the competition with assistance from Local 4 staff, including Local 4 BM-ST Gary Evenson, instructor Collin Keisling, and apprentice (helper) Michelle Kee. Union judges included retirees Lloyd Haynes, Local 92; Lloyd Andrews, Local 627; and James Collins, Local 92. Contractor judges included Ken Null, Babcock & Wilcox; Larry Chunn, Nooter; and Chuck Walker, ARB.