Two employees assigned to the Basin Electric Power SCR Unit 1 project under way in Wheatland, Wyoming, recently participated in the 31st Annual Boilermaker National Apprentice Program (BNAP) “Apprentice of the Year” competition that kicked off on Aug. 14.

Graycor Industrial’s Darrell Rosson, general superintendent, and Justin Williams, boilermaker foreman, traveled to Boilermakers Local 28 in Eastampton, New Jersey, where two contestants from each region in the country competed in a rigorous, two-day competition that tested on four years of apprenticeship studies through written and practical exams.

Both representing the Western States region, Darrell served as a judge for the second year, while Justin, an apprentice through Denver-based Local 101, competed as a regional finalist in the national competition. In addition, Darrell served as a national judge for the first time.

“This year’s competition was one of the tightest scored,” says Darrell, who explains the point spread among the eight finalists was only 50 out of a 1,000-point scoring system with competitors representing the Western States, Great Lakes, Northeast and Southeast regions.

Although Justin did not win the national spot, Graycor’s Wyoming team views him as a winner for having been chosen as a finalist in the national round. “We’re proud of his performance and dedication to developing his skills in this trade,” says Shawn Anderton, vice president and general manager for the company’s western operations and newly appointed BNAP board employer trustee. “We appreciate the opportunity to support the development of skilled craft resources,” she says, emphasizing that Ray Linzee [boilermaker superintendent] and Darrell are excellent mentors to the boilermakers on the Basin project. “I’m proud to see our general superintendent recognized as a judge and one of our apprentices perform so well as a finalist.”

The competition concluded with an awards dinner and ceremony in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.