CHANTILLY, Va. - The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) recognized the top apprentices in the unionized sheet metal industry as they competed for honors at the 34th Annual Sheet Metal Apprentice Contest.

The four-day competition in Las Vegas during the Partners in Progress Conference tested apprentices with hands-on skill assessments in measuring, fabricating, and installing. Also new this year for the competition was a testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) category and a real-life balancing exercise. The entire competition was a practical test of day-to-day challenges seen on the jobsite.

Before arriving in Las Vegas, apprentices competed in local contests to earn their bid to this national competition.

The winners of this year's apprentice contest include:

HVAC Competition
First Place - Nathan E. Harris, Fresno, Calif., New England Sheet Metal, Local 162
Second Place - Jason W. Fulton, Belmont, Mich., Certified Sheet Metal, Local 7
Third Place - Vaughn White, Redmond, Wash., Bellevue Mechanical, Local 66

TAB Competition
First Place - Cynthia L. Chan, Portland, Ore. JATC, Vancouver Rfg. And Sheet Metal
Second Place - Stephen C. Miller, Chino Hills, Calif., Precision Air Balance Co., Local 105
Third Place - Chris Coatsworth, San Jose, Calif., United Mechanical Inc., Local 104

Industrial Competition
First Place - Joseph S. Pavek, Montgomery, Minn., Himee Inc., Local 10
Second Place - Darek A. Scarlavai, Sparta, Mich., Bauer Sheet Metal & Fab, Local 7
Third Place - Christopher R. Whatley, Senoia, Ga., RF Knox Company Inc., Local 85

Publication date: 05/15/2006