Apprentice Essay Contest

Each year, IEC seeks short stories from apprentices in their final year of an IEC Apprentice Training Program. This program allows for individuals to share their thoughts, experiences and personal testimonials about their time within the electrical trade. The contest highlights the remarkable men and women who train on the IEC four-year electrical apprenticeship program. 

The IEC Apprentice Essay Contest allows for our contractor members, chapters, industry partners and other audiences to hear directly from the future journeymen electricians who are entering the field.

The Contest

IEC is seeking short stories from apprentices in their final year of IEC’s Four-Year Apprenticeship Program. Submissions must be typed and not exceed 250 words. Please note that essays exceeding 250 words will be disqualified.

Topics

The narrative must address the topic below.

  • How has becoming an electrician changed or influenced your life and where do you see this career path taking you?

Eligibility

The contest is open to all apprentices in their final year of IEC’s Four-Year Apprenticeship Program.

Prizes

IEC National will award prizes for the best submissions. The Grand Prize is a $250 Visa® gift card and four runners-up will each receive a $100 Visa® gift card. Each winning essay will be featured in the summer issue of IEC’s Insights magazine.

Participation

IEC National is requesting that all IEC chapter executive directors and/or training directors encourage their fourth-year apprentices to participate in the contest.

Submission Instructions

Submissions must be sent via email with the completed application by March 8, 2024 to Chrissy Skudera at cskudera@ieci.org.

2023 Apprentice Essay Contest Winners

GRAND PRIZE: Donna Derochanawong, IEC Central Ohio, Denier Electric

FIRST PLACE: Shawn M. Stewart, IEC Central Ohio, Romanoff Group

SECOND PLACE: David M. Peters, IEC Central Ohio, Fire Systems Professionals

THIRD PLACE: Cesar Aguilar, IEC Central Ohio, Romanoff Group

FOURTH PLACE: William Schunk Jr., IEC of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Valley Electrical Services, Inc.

 

“The first day on a construction site, I felt oddly at home. Grinders, drills, the deafening zip of wires through metal studs. The cacophony of construction immediately filled me with a sense of purpose and exposed an endless world of learning.”

Evan Hlava, IEC Central Ohio 
GRAND PRIZE WINNER (2020)
Contractor: Express 

 

“This trade is something I can be proud of and take all over the country and even the world. I can stand tall and say, I am an electrician. There are endless possibilities to this trade and the life lessons it has to offer. “

Luke Vanderhoff, IEC Central Ohio 
FIRST PLACE (2020) 
Contractor: Settle Muter Electric 

Questions?

Contact the national staff member below for any questions regarding apprenticeship.