May 2, 2018

For the second year in a row, Medicine Hat College (MHC) apprenticeship graduates have been recognized at the provincial level for their excellence in the trades. James Ellertson, a plumber for Bauman’s Ventilation and Plumbing, and Tyler Siggelkow-Maggrah, a welder with Bromley Mechanical, both received Top Apprentice Awards at the annual Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Board Awards held in Edmonton last month. Awards are presented in each of the 51 trades recognized by AIT to students who achieve the highest overall mark in their final period of training and receive a strong employer recommendation.

Siggelkow-Maggrah was pleased to be recognized for the dedication he has for his trade and looks forward to paying his experience forward.

“I was quite overjoyed when I received the news,” says the local welder. “I always try to challenge myself and use the knowledge and experience that was passed on to me in everything I do. Now I'm excited to be that mentor for new apprentices.”

He credits the instructors and learning environment at MHC to his success as a student.

“The instructors at MHC are excellent. Everyone is friendly, approachable, and very knowledgeable. They encourage you to take pride in everything you do. The experience they bring to their teaching is a huge benefit, as they are able to relate information to real world practices and applications.”

Photo [left to right]: MHC alumnus and Bromley representative, Barry Gutfriend, with the award-winning Tyler Siggelkow-Maggrah.

With stiff competition from much larger schools and centres across Alberta, Dennis Beaudoin, MHC’s dean of trades and technology, is proud of his team and their role in developing top apprenticeship talent. From provincial recognition to global competition, MHC apprenticeship students have demonstrated success at all levels.

“There are a lot of people who play a big part in making this happen,” says Beaudoin, acknowledging the hard work of administration and support staff who provide resources and keep the trades department running smoothly.

“But most of all, our incredible instructors across the entire department provide positive and practical learning experiences that enable our students to succeed.”