June 14, 2007

District students have again been recognized as among the best craftspeople in the country at the Canadian Skills Competition.

Kevin Pencer, a Grade 12 student at North Surrey Learning Centre, earned a silver medal in electrical wiring. Competitors in the event demonstrate abilities in performing various installation tasks in residential, commercial and industrial electrical wiring.  Student skills and knowledge are evaluated in several electrical systems, including motor controls, branch circuit components, communications systems, warning devices and various types of detectors.

Kevin completed the BCIT Electrical Partnership Program in January 2007. He is currently registered as a Secondary School Apprentice (SSA). He started his apprenticeship while in high school, working last summer as an electrical apprentice for Western Pacific Enterprises. He is planning on continuing his apprenticeship as soon as he graduates from high school. He will then qualify for a $1000.00 SSA Scholarship.

Grade 11 Lord Tweedsmuir student Bradley Sanders won silver in the workplace safety competition. Participants in this event completed a theory quiz, gave a safety talk, and conducted a hazard identification and risk assessment by inspecting examples of workplace hazards. Categories included safety equipment, tools, machinery and electrical hazards, and ergonomics.

Bradley is in his first semester of the BCIT Electrical Partnership Program and will work this summer as an SSA electrical apprentice.

Kevin and Bradley’s journey to the 13th annual Canadian Skills Competition began in April this year when they participated in the provincial skills competition. Both won gold, making them eligible to enter the national competition, which was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan this month. More than 500 students from across Canada participated in this year’s competition.

Surrey School District students garnered gold medals in three categories and a bronze in another at last year’s Canadian Skills Competition.

• Print or download the news release ( PDF, 28 KB)

Related:

• Students garner golds at 2006 Canada Skills Competition ( PDF, 44 KB)
  
• Students receive nineteen medals at B.C. Skills Competition, posted April 20, 2007
• Students excel at regional trades and technology competition, posted April 13, 2007
  

Last Updated: August 24, 2007

Bradley Sanders at his workplace safety booth

Kevin Pencer during the electrical wiring competition

Bradley, electrical program instructor Don Zalkan, and Kevin

Click on photos to enlarge