NWTC apprenticeship student Kevin Matuszak brought home a bronze medal from the 2009 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Craft Championships held late February in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Pulaski resident is a graduate of NWTC’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) Technology associate degree program and is currently a student in the ABC HVAC apprenticeship program at NWTC. He is on track to complete his apprenticeship classroom hours this month and finish the on-the-job training requirement over the next 12 months.
During the championships, Matuszak and his fellow competitors took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in a four-hour, hands-on performance test. Matuszak said finishing third at the national competition upped his confidence level “quite considerably” and gave him a sense of accomplishment.
“It’s very satisfying knowing that I am one of the elite in the nation,” said Matuszak.
In addition to earning the bronze medal, Matuszak won a $350 cash prize, tools, and work boots. His employer, Idealair Heating and Cooling of De Pere, and his training sponsor, the ABC Wisconsin chapter, covered the costs of his trip to Hawaii.
Matuszak qualified for the national competition by placing first in the ABC of Wisconsin Skill Competition held in January at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay.
Apprenticeship program produces award-winning grads
The ABC HVAC apprenticeship program at NWTC has a record of producing award-winning graduates for the workforce. Since 2003, when the HVAC portion of the ABC National Craft Competition was added, the NWTC HVAC apprenticeship program has had a state champion and national competitor each year an NWTC student has competed – in 2003, 2005, 2008, and, with Matuszak’s recent success, 2009.
HVAC apprenticeship instructor Ken Delcore is also a national award winner. Last year, Delcore earned the top test scores in the United States on the North American Technician Excellence qualifying exam, earning him the title of the nation’s “Top Tech.” He is the first instructor ever to win the national Top Tech title.
“One thing that we pride ourselves on with our apprenticeship training is a significant amount of hands-on training along with classroom training during school,” Delcore said.
Another apprenticeship program benefit is the opportunity for students to receive credit for prior learning and work experience. In Matuszak’s case, as an HVAC/R associate degree graduate, he earned credit for two years of classroom instruction toward his HVAC apprenticeship. He was also credited for two years of previous on-the-job experience at Idealair.
Credit for prior learning and work experience varies by apprenticeship program and/or sponsor. For more information, contact the NWTC Apprenticeship Office at (920) 498-5682.
About Apprenticeship Programs
An apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn program of on-the-job training combined with related classroom instruction. The state of Wisconsin has recognized more than 300 apprenticeable occupations, including HVAC.
Apprenticeship grads who have completed their training and obtained journey level status are eligible for 32 credits for prior learning toward an Individualized Technical Studies-Journeyworker associate degree.
For more information about the occupations served by NWTC, call the NWTC apprenticeship coordinator, (920) 498-5704.