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KPU Student Heads to Quebec to Represent BC in Canada's Biggest Trades and Technology Challenge
METRO VANCOUVER, BC – (May 30, 2011) – KPU student Tyler Kropinak is heading east to Quebec City to take on a dozen trades students from across the country at the 17th Annual Skills Canada National Competition. He won this opportunity by beating out seven other welding students in regional and provincial qualifying rounds from universities and colleges from as far away as Prince George.
"I've been looking forward to this competition ever since I was 14 years old," says Kropinak. "I'm hopeful that this year I'll be able to make it onto the podium and be recognized as one of the best young welders in the country."
Kropinak's welding abilities will be judged over a two day period. Judges will consider his capabilities via dimensional correctness, weld consistency, proper join configuration and proper weld size.
The national competition, which lasts for four days starting June 1, will bring together over 500 competitors. It is expected to draw roughly 20,000 spectators, judges and sponsors to a competition space that is 200,000 square feet. The competition includes 40 different trade challenges ranging from carpentry, heavy duty mechanic work, cooking, electrical, masonry, hairstyling, robotics, offset printing and welding.
"This really is the ‘Olympics' of trades competition in Canada," says Kropinak. "I'm feeling a lot of nervous excitement about the opportunity to head to Quebec and possibly come home with a gold medal at the end of this week."
Kropinak says he has been practicing consistently for 2-3 hours daily for the past few weeks in addition to the practice he gets everyday at work at Columbia Remtech, a local manufacturer of aluminum petroleum trailers and aluminum asphalt trailers.
This will be the second time Kropinak has competed in welding at the national level. He competed at last year's Skills Canada National Competition on behalf of Fraser Heights Secondary School in its post-secondary division. Kropinak placed fourth in the contest. He has been attending KPU since becoming a partnership student in February 2009 and successfully completed the Level C welding program in mid-August 2009. He returned to his high school to complete his diploma and then headed back to KPU in the fall of 2010 to take his Level B training. He has been employed as a welder since completing his Level C.
KPU has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,000 students annually have a choice from over 135 programs including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.
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Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kpu.ca