Jacob Youngbear competes in the PHCC National Plumbing competition Oct 20-22, 2021 in Kansas City, MO. Jacob is a 3rd year plumbing apprentice for the Meskwaki Nation Apprenticeship program. He qualified for the national event by winning his division at the state level SkillsUSA competition held virtually back in April. Apprentices must be in their 3rd, 4th, or 5th year of their apprenticeship and must also be endorsed/certified by a PHCC state chapter to be eligible for the national level.
For thirty plumbing and HVAC apprentices, the PHCC educational foundation’s national plumbing and HVAC apprentice contests are a chance to shine. This once-a-year event hosts the top apprentices from across the nation to work on a test of their skills, knowledge and accuracy. Plumbing apprentices had to rough-in a bathroom– including the drain, waste and vent lines, a toilet, a sink and shower.
The contest took place on the tradeshow floor during the PHCC Connect event, allowing the event attendees to watch the contestants progress. Besides offering apprentices a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills on a national stage, the contests support the foundation’s mission by helping to generate awareness for local apprenticeship programs, boosting interest in the fields of plumbing and HVAC and attracting new recruits to the industry.
Although Jacob did not place in the top three of the nation, he had a very good showing at the event. He received positive feedback from his fellow competitors and the event judges. Congratulations Jacob on your accomplishments and thank you for representing the Meskwaki Nation in Kansas City.
