Western States Area apprentice contestants include, l. to r.: Jeremy Rosas, Local 242; Brian VanDam, Local 182; David Uhl, Local 101; Susanne Donahue, Local 11; Jacob Garver, Local 500; Lionel Benally, Local 4; Patrick Collins, Local 92; Johnny Brown Jr., Local 549; and Carrie Sanders, Local 627.
Rosas takes top spot, VanDam places second
JEREMY ROSAS OF Local 242 (Spokane, Wash.) won the James F. Precht Award as the top apprentice in the 21st annual Western States Area Outstanding Graduate Apprentice Competition held May 12-14 at Local 242. Brian VanDam of Local 182 (Salt Lake City, Utah) placed second.
The Greg Streblow Scholastic Award went to Lionel Benally of Local 4 (Page, Ariz.), and the Don Lacefield Local of the Year Award went to Local 92 (Los Angeles).
Nine construction lodges participated in the event this year. Other graduate apprentices competing in the three-day event included Susanne Donahue, Local 11 (Helena, Mont.); Patrick Collins, Local 92; David Uhl, Local 101 (Denver); Jacob Garver, Local 500 (Salem, Ore.); Johnny Brown, Local 549 (Pittsburg, Calif.); and Carrie Sanders, Local 627 (Phoenix, Ariz.).
The Western States apprenticeship staff organized the competition with assistance from Boilermakers Local 242 staff, including BM-ST Dave Imus and instructor Marion Liebman. Union judges included Local 242 retirees Marlin McCurdy, Ed Glass, and Richard Skaugstad. Contractor judges included Ken Null, Babcox & Wilcox; and Ray Salgado and Chuck Walker, both from ARB.
