By rdnewsNOW staff

top skills

RDC honours award-winning apprenticeship students

Oct 31, 2019 | 7:29 AM

RED DEER- Skills excellence was celebrated at Red Deer College on Wednesday when seven apprenticeship students and two School Within a College (SWAC) students were recognized for their success at this year’s Skills Canada competitions.

“This is the second year we’ve honoured student excellence through a banner-raising event. It’s such an important way for all of us to acknowledge and support the hard work of our students, instructors and all the others who are part of the teaching and apprenticeship communities,” says Joel Gingrich, Dean of RDC’s School of Trades and Technologies.

The apprenticeship students are from a range of RDC’s programs, including Carpentry, Electrician, Heavy Equipment Technician, Sprinkler Systems Installer and Welder.

“We’re very proud of what our students have achieved through Skills competitions this year. It speaks to their dedication, knowledge and expertise in their respective areas, and it’s an achievement that positions them for future growth and success,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, RDC President. “Plus, as we transition to Red Deer University, we will continue to draw on these types of experiences to provide students from across our programs with the foundation for rewarding careers.”

Here is the list of medalists:

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Gold medalists:

– Sam Rufenacht, Heavy Equipment Service
– Clay Flack, Sprinkler Systems – also earned the bronze medal at the 2019 Skills Canada National Competition
– Dayton Playford, Welding – also earned the gold medal at the 2019 Skills Canada National Competition

Silver medalists:

– Daniel Vervloet, Carpentry
– Tristan Hatto, Electrical Installation
– Devon Westby, Sprinkler Systems

Bronze medalist:

– Josiah Pilon, Carpentry

The high school students are part of the School within a College program, a unique program where students receive dual credit by completing a trades program at RDC, in addition to completing high school credits at schools in their home communities.

High school students taking the program were also recognized:

Ben Rainforth, Welding, Lacombe Composite High School
– Gold at Regional Skills competition
– Gold at Skills Canada Alberta competition
– Gold at Skills Canada National competition

Tristen Young, Welding, Ponoka Secondary Campus

– Silver at Regional Skills competition
– Silver at Skills Canada Alberta competition

The School of Trades and Technologies offers students apprenticeship programs in 14 trades, and the School also offers three two-year Diploma programs:

– Electrical Engineering Technology
– Mechanical Engineering Technology
– Instrumentation Engineering Technology

(Red Deer College)