P1 Apprentices Ace State Competitions in Pipefitting and HVAC
Congratulations to Kyle Cullen and Andrew Maginness on winning state craft competitions in pipefitting and HVAC, respectively.
The purpose of these competitions is to see how well unions across the country are learning different skills and to improve skills overall as a trade.
Kyle, a five-year apprentice, was top three out of five in the first competition, held at the Local 533 (Kansas City, Missouri) pipefitter training center. In the second state competition he emerged first of three and will go to regionals in Minnesota on June 5.
“I feel pretty level about it,” Kyle said. “We’ll have to do both hands-on and troubleshooting to compete, and I’m keeping an open mind.”
FUN FACT: the annual apprentice competitions held by the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the U.S. and Canada (UA) began in the 1950s, but were discontinued for 25 years. They were revived again in 2007. Source: Craft Competitions : Plumbers' Union Tests Young Competitors
If Kyle is victorious in Minnesota, he moves on to the national competition at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Mich.
On the HVAC side, second-year apprentice Andrew Maginness won the Nevada state HVAC apprenticeship contest held at the local 525 training center. His competition included brazing, soldering, pipefitting, rigging and electrical board skills. Andrew works with Mario Vitale, Service Specialist, at P1 Service’s Las Vegas office.
“I’m doing quite a bit of rigging here in Vegas,” Andrew said, “I think that helped me get around the second place guy.”
Andrew will go on to compete regionally in Denver, Colorado June 19-22. Nationals in his trade will also be in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Both competitors say they feel good about the next level of competition and look forward to taking on the challenge.
Congratulations and best of luck to Kyle and Andrew!
Pictured at top, left: Andrew Maginness with Local 525 coordinator Dale Stubblefield and Local 350 Coordinator Randy Canale. Pictured at top, right: Kyle Cullen
