4 apprentices advance to national competition
Post-Tribune staff report June 16, 2012 7:18PM
Sam Howard of Hobart, Local #395 works with a cutting torch for the burning portion of the 2012 Apprenticeship Competition held at the Local #395 School in Lake Station, IN on June 16, 2012. | Jim Karczewski~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 18, 2012 6:42AM
Four local apprentices will compete in a national ironworkers competition after advancing Saturday in a district match.
The Chicago District Council of Ironworkers is sending four of its apprentices from different local schools in the area, including two from Hammond.
For the first time, the competition took place in Northwest Indiana, according to Doug Strayer, Local 395 business manager. The contest was at Ironworkers Local 395 apprenticeship school in Lake Station.
The national competition will take place in Indianapolis in September.
“There’s no monetary gain; it’s more of a prestige thing,” he said. “It’s very prestigious for whatever local in the country gets the outstanding apprentice award, and brings home the trophy to their local.”
Jeff Callendar took home top honors in Saturday’s competition, and Hammond residents David Brightwell and Sam Howard took second and third place.
Ten contestants competed in 11 categories such as welding, torch building, cutting metal and a written test.
Brightwell, an Army veteran, Strayer said, took top honors in a column-climbing contest, despite a leg injury sustained during military service in Afghanistan.
