Electrician’s Apprentices Compete in 7-Hour Wire-Off Competition, Win Nearly $5,000 in Prizes
DENVER, Colorado — May 29, 2014 — On Friday, May 17th, more than 200 people visited IECRM in Denver to cheer on ten electrician’s apprentices as they competed in the 2014 Wire-Off Competition, a rigorous seven-hour challenge among the top ten graduating students in the IECRM Four-Year Electrician’s Apprentice Program. First Place Winner of the Wire-Off Competition was awarded to Christopher Kocer, an electrician’s apprentice at Interstates Construction Services in Fort Collins, Colorado. The day’s events, which included an Energy Expo and Blood Drive for Children’s Hospital Colorado, were supported by Premier Sponsor, Milwaukee Tool, with additional sponsorships from Allcable, Inc., Colorado Business Bank, Stewart & Stevenson Power, Inc., and Weifield Group Contracting.
The annual Wire-Off Competition is a full-day electrical challenge that tests the electrical students’ proficiency in basic motor control circuits, line diagrams, materials, and circuit installation. The competitors rely on their knowledge of the National Electric Code, paired with practical on-the-job training that they’ve achieved over four or more years of apprenticeship. The ten competitors were selected based on the highest qualifying exam scores.
“No matter what place these students came in, they are all winners and we are proud of every one of them,” said Paul Lingo, IECRM Training Director and an IECRM alum, who coordinated the 2014 Wire-Off Competition.
The student competition took place during the 2014 Energy Expo, an annual event produced by IECRM that showcases the latest electrical and renewable energy tools and technology from companies across the Front Range and nationally.
Altogether, the ten students went home with more than $4,900 in prizes thanks to donations from Greenlee Textron, IDEAL Industries, Inc., Milwaukee Tool, Pinnacol Assurance, and Stewart & Stevenson Power, Inc. The students will graduate from the IECRM Four-Year Apprentice Program on Saturday, May 31st, at a special ceremony at the Westin in Westminster, Colorado.
Spectators won more than $2,600 in donated raffle prizes, including gift cards, Rockies tickets, and tools, thanks to donations from multiple members of the IECRM energy trade association. The guests also enjoyed a free outdoor barbecue, co-sponsored by Weifield Group Contracting and Stewart & Stevenson Power, Inc.
Guests helped potentially save or enhance the lives of over 100 children by donating blood to Children’s Hospital Colorado inside a mobile blood drive. The blood drive was coordinated by IECRM and sponsored by Colorado Business Bank.
Registration for the Four-Year Electrician’s Apprentice Program will open on Monday, June 23, 2014, followed by an Energy Industry Job Fair on June 24th at IECRM in Denver. Register to participate in the job fair at www.iecrm.org, or call (303) 853-4886 for more information.