The IEC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and IEC Atlanta held graduation ceremonies last month, celebrating a total of 117 graduates. IEC Chesapeake also graduated apprentices last of May. On July 12, the IEC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter held its 2014 graduation ceremonies at the Crowne Plaza Houston near Reliant â Medical. An audience of well over 800 family, friends and coâworkers welcomed the 80 graduates as they entered the auditorium.
Larry Burns, chapter president, began the ceremonies congratulating them on their accomplishments and recognizing special guests. The Invocation was led by Assistant Training Director/Instructor, Dave Stump. Instructors Joe Duron & Ryan Coperude shared the responsibilities of presenting graduates.
Patrick Dever with Facilities Electric was awarded the Madeline Borthick Award for Scholastic Excellence. He was also named Outstanding Apprentice of the Year and will represent the chapter at the National Convention this October in Baltimore.
Nineteen graduates were recognized having completed the entire 4âyear program with Perfect Attendance. Four graduates were recognized for having achieved Honor Roll all four years.
JonâMichael Vasek with FSG Electric, Preston Dengler with Central Electric, and Andrew Sebesta with Walker Engineering were recognized as Outstanding first-, second-, and third-year students, respectively, for maintaining the highest grade average in their class.
IEC Atlanta threw a "lavish affair" in honor of its 37 graduates; 31 apprentices from the 4-year apprenticeship program and six from the PEP program. The celebration was held July 11, at the Hilton North East. Contractors, instructors, family and friends came out to show support and celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates.
Some apprentices received additional awards and accolades reflecting success throughout their IEC educational career. Award winners included:
- Perfect attendance for all 4 years- Dennys Linares of Electrical Contractor, Inc.
- 4- Year Academic Achievement Award - Richard Kevin Martin of Hughes Electric Services, Inc.
- PEP Academic Achievement Award - Jeremy McDonald of Regency Electric Co.
- 2014 Apprentice of the Year- Michael Carrico of Phillips Electrical Technologies, LLC
IEC Executive Director, Niel Dawson was the guest speaker and gave an illustrious delivery recapping the tremendous efforts of the apprentices’ hard work, and how it led them to their graduation night.
On May 31, 2014, the Chesapeake chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors Association (IEC Chesapeake) hosted its 29th Annual Apprenticeship Commencement Ceremony in Adelphi Maryland. The ceremony marked the end of a four-year program for 53 apprentices in the electrical industry. Surrounded by over 200 friends and family members, this year’s apprentices celebrated completing four difficult years spent working full-time in the field during the day, and going to school in the evening. For many of them, their education will culminate in sitting for their Journeyman license.
The ceremony was emceed by association president Michael Knecht, and included a keynote address from one of the industry’s most well-known and nationally recognized electrical trainers, Mike Holt. The apprentices each received IEC Chesapeake and IEC National certificates of completion, and some students received their state certificate for having completed an accredited apprenticeship program and 8000 hours of on-the-job training with a contractor.
