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RECENT EVENTS
September 10-15, 2002
The 45th IEC Annual National Convention & Expo was held at the Mariott Hotel/Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. Twenty-four new graduates from 2001-2002 IEC Apprenticeship Programs across the country were registered in the Wire-Off Competition. Our graduate electrician, Luis Zuniga III, represented his employer Valley Electric of Harlingen, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley Chapter IEC. All IEC convention attendees had time to watch the Wire-Off while visiting the 2002 Expo exhibitor booths. This proved to be a great way to investigate many new products and tools being introduced. The IEC National Convention is an annual event for the IEC.
Luis Zuniga and other Wire-Off competitors were honored during the IEC Awards Banquet during the evening of September 14th in Tampa. They all received beautiful Award Plaques and cash gifts. Approximately 600 IEC members and guests attended the ceremony.
Also attending the week long convention and representing the RGV Chapter IEC, Don Muhl, Executive Director - RGV Chapter IEC attended business meetings with directors from 77 other nationwide IEC Chapters.
May 11, 2002
The RGV Chapter sponsored its Annual Wire-Off Competion for 3rd and 4th Year Apprentices. The event started with a written exam (NEC used as reference) monitored by instructors Karl Fangmann and Albert Gonzalez. Next all contestants entered the large "Wire-Off" shop where each Apprentice was given identical instructions, supplies and material to construct and wire a typical commercial circuit on a vertical 4x8 foot sheet of plywood wall. Each student and work site was identified by number only. Visiting judges were not allowed to view the work until all trainees finished and left the shop. While the judges examined all the project wiring, guests, instructors and apprentices enjoyed lunch sponsored by IEC Member Contractor - Coastal Engineering Company, San Benito, Texas.
May 24, 2002
The IEC Graduation & Promotion Ceremony was held at the Best Western Palm Aire Ballroom. More than 220 guests and apprentices enjoyed a wonderful meal followed by a Guest Speaker, James Titus (retired electrical contractor, teacher and IEC director). Awards, Special Recognitions, Promotion Certificates and Graduation Certificates completed the exciting evening. These included a $500 cash award for Highest 4-Year GPA, and an all expense-paid trip to the 45th Annual IEC National Convention awarded to Luis Zuniga III as the 4th Year winner of the Wire-Off. The 3rd Year Class winner of the Wire-Off also received $100 and a trophy. Individuals from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year classes with the highest grade point averages during the year received cash awards of $100 each. Most important were the "Certificates of Completion of Apprenticeship as Electrician" issued by the United States Department of Labor and signed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor. These and IEC Certificates were handed out to Graduates by Members of the IEC Board of Directors.
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