Apprenticeship Contestants Compete in ‘The Best in the West’ Challenges

To be the BEST is truly a statement only a few can claim.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr

For the Electrical Industry in the Western United States, this happens when the best newly completed apprentice electricians compete at the Western States Electrical Contest.

Every year NECA/IBEW apprenticeship programs from the States of Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, and Alaska send contestants to compete to see who is “The BEST in the West.”

This year’s competition was held at the Northwest Washington Electrical JATC training center in Mount Vernon on September 15, 2012.Competition events include Motor Control Drawing, Motor Control Project, Written Exam, Material ID,  Residential Wiring Project, ½ Conduit Bending and ¾ Conduit Bending.

Carl Brailsford, Training Director of the Utah Electrical JATC, states that contestants must demonstrate their knowledge, skills and ability while representing their various Training Centers in spirited competition.

The contest is an intense, high energy competition with lots of twists and turns that allow the electricians to use on the job skills they have acquired to accomplish goals of each project.

This year’s sponsors included Platt Electric Supply, Fluke Corporation and Northwest Washington Electrical Industry Labor-Management Cooperation Committee. A  Dinner and Awards Ceremony was held at the Tulalip Resort where contestants and award winners were recognized. Every contestant was given a Milwaukee drill and various tools donated by Platt Electric Supply. Winners and runner-ups were presented with cash prizes by Platt and with various meters by Fluke.

The winners of the 2012 Western States Contest were as follows:

Overall winners were:
1st Place – Antonio Samaniego – Central Valley Electrical JATC, Modesto, CA
2nd Place – Kristopher Tuura – LU112/NECA Electrical JATC, Kennewick, WA
3rd Place – Nolan Aragon – Kern County Electrical JATC, Bakersfield, CA

Category winners were:
Motor Control – Ryan Harrell – Fresno Area Electrical JATC, Fresno, CA
Written Exam – Kristopher Tuura – LU112/NECA Electrical JATC, Kennewick, WA
Material Identification – Arin Forrest – NECA-IBEW Electrical JATC, Portland, OR
Residential – Aaron Frymire – Crater Lake Electrical JATC, Central Point, OR
½ “Conduit – Nolan Aragon – Kern County Electrical JATC, Bakersfield, CA
¾” Conduit – Roger Brady – Santa Clara County Electrical JATC, San Jose, CA