At left: Martha Grazier won AFSA’s first NAC in 1994 and celebrated with then-AFSA Chair Don Becker (left) and AFSA Past Chair Bob McCullough (right) who created the competition. At right: McCullough (far left) and AFSA Past Chair Jack Viola (far right) with 1997 top winners.
CELEBRATING APPRENTICES COMPETITION SHOWCASES THE “BEST OF THE BEST”
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REBECCA HERRING | AMERICAN FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION
his year marks American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA)’s 28th Annual National Apprentice Competition. This year’s live, in-person competition will be held in the exhibit hall at AFSA40: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition September 18-21, 2021, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
HISTORY OF THE COMPETITION AFSA’s Annual National Apprentice Competition (NAC) was created in 1994 by the late Robert L. (Bob) McCullough, then chair of the Apprenticeship & Education Committee, to promote apprentice training and give recognition to the apprentices who are actively enrolled in the AFSA apprenticeship program. Each year, the competition continues to attract more fire sprinkler apprentices from AFSA local chapters and member training programs from all corners of the United States, bringing them together for the fire sprinkler industry’s foremost showcase of training excellence. Enrolling your apprentices in AFSA’s apprentice training program not only offers excellent education and a fulfilling career but is also the ticket to competing in the AFSA apprentice competition. The competition consists of two portions: a written test, based on all four levels of AFSA/NCCER Contren® Learning Series Sprinkler Fitter curriculum, followed by a live competition practical in front of a live audience in the AFSA exhibition hall at AFSA40. When AFSA was formed 40 years ago, its founders had a vision: be the industry leader in fire sprinkler education and training. This competition is a piece of that vision come to life. “AFSA’s National Apprentice Competition is the premier opportunity to highlight knowledge and capability for the fire sprinkler apprentice,” says AFSA
18 SPRINKLER AGE | MAR/APR 2021
Director and Co-Chair of AFSA’s Apprenticeship & Education Committee Rod DiBona, Rapid Fire Protection, Inc., Rapid City, South Dakota, who was a finalist and competitor at AFSA’s 1985 competition, held in Palm Desert, California (see photo at right). “To have one of the top seven scores in the nation is a badge that can be worn with pride for an entire career, both for the individual and the sponsoring company. We are proud to put such an emphasis on the future of our industry and invite all member companies to participate and to encourage all of their apprentices to compete. There is great value in the process, regardless of the result.”
ONLINE ASSESSMENT AFSA will once again utilize online testing for Phase I of the two-phase competition. This testing method provides many benefits for those competing. First and foremost, keeping safety and social distancing at the top of mind, the continued offering of digital testing helps AFSA to comply with COVID-19 regulations across the country. Secondly, the system increases the convenience of testing for all apprentices. Apprentices schedule a time during the testing window and test online when and where it is convenient for them. Digital testing continues to streamline the testing process for all involved and allows more apprentices than ever before the opportunity to raise the stakes by participating in the competition.
IGNITE INDUSTRY PASSION The NAC offers a little something for everyone, from the excitement that can rock a whole company to the personal victories
