UA 400 Pipe Trades, MCA host skills competition

November 18, 2024

KAUKAUNA – 400 Pipe Trades and the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) held its Kick Off Your Future Skills Competition at the UA 400 Training Facility in late October. 

Tech. Ed. students from 17 local high schools competed to construct their own field goal project using carbon pipe and the welding process of their choice. 

Projects were judged on correct dimensions, weld quality and overall design/accuracy/creativity. The top three winning teams received a plaque and tools from Milwaukee Tools.

• First place: Reedsville High School
• Second place: Appleton East High School
• Third place: Denmark High School

The keynote speaker at the event was UA 400 4th Year Steamfitter Apprentice Hunter Schrank, who works for August Winter and Sons. 

“This exposure is important at this point in their lives because they are starting to focus on career exploration,” UA 400 Business Manager Doug Dokey said. “This event allows them to see if a career in the pipe trades might be a match for their interests and goals.” 

In a random drawing, Freedom High School won a Miller 255 Multimatic Welder. For more information on UA 400 apprenticeships in plumbing, welding, steamfitting, fabrication and HVAC, visit ua400.org/apprenticeship-programs.