41st Annual N.C. State Fair Electrical Apprentice Contest

DIVISION 101 – APPRENTICE CONTESTS

Class 02 – ELECTRICAL

2026 N.C. State Fair Apprentice Contests Digital Booklet

Contest Information:

• DATE: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
• SCHEDULE: 
  • Contestant Check-In: 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
  • Tool Check: 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
  • Materials Inventory: 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
  • Safety Briefing: 8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
  • Hands-on Contest: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • Written Test: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Awards Ceremony: 3:00 p.m.
• LOCATION: N.C. State Fair, behind the Jim Graham Building off Hillsborough Street
• JUDGING: Upon contest completion, a panel of judges will evaluate the projects according to an official rubric and electrical code.
• PREMIUMS: 1st Place: $325, 2nd Place: $225, 3rd Place: $175, 4th Place: $125, 5th Place: $100, 6th-10th Places: $75
• Prizes donated by manufacturers and suppliers will be presented to all contestants.
• The first-place winner and their employer will be recognized with plaques at a later date.

Contestants:

• Adam Kunze—Triangle Electrical Services Inc./ABC of the Carolinas, Inc.
• Addison Duncan—Jackson Electrical Contractors/Apprenticeship Blue Ridge
• Angel Castillo—Raleigh-Durham Electrical JATC
• Anna Mann—Pitt Electric ORI, LLC/Wayne Community College
• Bobby Pearson—Charlotte Electrical JATC
• Cameron Craig—Fountain Electric Services, LLC
• Camilo Andres Barrero Escobar—Charlotte Electrical JATC
• Carson Tadlock—SE&M / Wake Tech Community College
• Christian Enriquez—Watson Electrical Construction Co., LLC (Alternate)
• Christopher Aquino—Jackson Electrical Contractors/Apprenticeship Blue Ridge
• Cody Gioielli—Pitt Electric ORI, LLC/Wayne Community College
• Diego Argomaniz—Salem Electric Company/Forsyth Technical Community College
• Eloy Vazquez—Fountain Electric Services, LLC
• Emerson Alvarenga-Paz—Pitt Electric ORI, LLC/Wayne Community College
• Erik Naderer—Starr Electric Company, Inc.
• Gage Carter—Starr Electric Company ,Inc.
• Geordan Prosser—Alcami Corporation/Cape Fear Community College
• Issachar De La Cruz—Watson Electrical Construction Co., LLC
• Joseph Falzone—Raleigh-Durham Electrical JATC
• Josiah Ward—Fountain Electric Services, LLC
• Justin Rigsbee—L.L. Vann Electric, Inc./Wake Technical Community College
• Kevin Morales—SE&M / Wake Tech Community College
• Luis Avellaneda—Raleigh-Durham Electrical JATC
• Matt Dougherty—Carolinas Electrical JATC
• Nelson Chavers—Salem Electric Company/Forsyth Technical Community College
• Patrick Lavrik—Charlotte Electrical JATC
• Robert Bruno—Charlotte Electrical JATC
• Robert Davis—SE&M / Wake Tech Community College
• Ryan Dellaghelfa—Jackson Electrical Contractors/Apprenticeship Blue Ridge
• Scott Wright—Carolinas Electrical JATC
• Thomas Jeffries Jr.—L.J. Electrical Company
• Tyler Hendrix—Watson Electrical Construction Co., LLC
• Tyson Shroyer—Watson Electrical Construction Co., LLC
• Victor Suarez—Pitt Electric ORI, LLC/Wayne Community College
• Willis Daniel III—Salem Electric Company/Forsyth Technical Community College
• Zachary Smith—Starr Electric Company, Inc.
• Zack Turner—SE&M / Wake Tech Community College

Registration Rules & Information:

• M
• ApprenticeshipNC
• Carolinas Electrical Training Institute
• Cary High School
• CECA
• CED
• Cummins
• Dewalt Stanley
• Eaton Corporation
• ElectricalLicenseRenewal.com
• Gregory Poole Equipment Company, Raleigh
• Greater Wake County Building Officials Association
• Graybar
• Hinson Electric
• IBEW Local Union 553
• Ideal Industries
• Klein Tools
• Lowe’s
• Milwaukee Tools
• Nash County Schools
• NCAEC
• Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
• Sir Raleigh Electric, Inc.
• Starr Electric Company, Inc.
• Wake County Association of Electrical Contractors
• Watson Electrical Construction Co., LLC
• Vaughan Electrical Company

Registration Rules & Information:

• Contest registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on July 15, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 4, 2026.
  • Entries will not be accepted before or after these dates. No exceptions. The date and time of each entry will be recorded when received by ApprenticeshipNC.
    • A registration link will appear on this page when registration opens. 
• Contestants cannot enter themselves. Their entry forms must be submitted by their employers/program sponsors
• The contest is limited to Electrician Registered Apprentices enrolled in ApprenticeshipNC recognized programs.
  • Contestants must have completed at least two years (4,001 OJL hours), but no more than four years (8,000 OJL hours) of training and not have received a Certificate of Completion by October 21, 2026, as certified by the Registered Apprenticeship Program sponsor/participating employer, verified by ApprenticeshipNC, and approved by the Contest Committee.
• Contestants cannot compete if they have passed any States’ Contracting Licensing Boards Exam or have been approved to take such an exam before the date of the competition.
• All required documentation must be submitted prior to the start of the contest in order for contestants to compete.
• First place winners are ineligible to compete in future contests.
• The contest is limited to 36 qualifying contestants. ApprenticeshipNC will maintain an alternate list of up to four contestants.

Limitation on the Number of Applicants per Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP):

Each RAP sponsor or employer may submit up to eight regular applicants and two alternates. Alternates must be designated as primary and secondary. Only regular applicants will be considered among the first 36 qualifying contestants.

RAP sponsors or employers with multiple programs or locations will be treated as a single entity for the purpose of submitting entry forms. If a pool of eligible applicants is used to fill the 36 available spots, one additional entry per sponsor/contractor will be selected in each round. This process will continue in rounds until all 36 contestants have been chosen.

Contest Planning Committee:

• ApprenticeshipNC
• Industry partners and employers
• NC Electrical Contractors and Associations
• NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
• N.C. Office of State Fire Marshal

The State of North Carolina will require the submission of a NC Substitute W-9 prior to making any payment of $600 or greater or any payment that results in a total of $600 or more during one calendar year from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to any individual or entity. To complete the forms, contestants MUST know their social security numbers and legal address (including county of residence), so please be sure they have them memorized or the information on hand. ApprenticeshipNC will provide the forms at the fairgrounds.

Due to entry deadline extensions by committees, some contestants, contributors, and/or sponsors may not be listed in the printed program. These individuals and organizations will be acknowledged at the awards presentation. The contest committee reserves the right to make changes prior to the contest date. Updates to any contest will be posted at www.apprenticeshipnc.com/events.

About the Contest:

Held annually for over 40 years, the N.C. State Fair Electrical Apprentice Contest promotes interest in skilled trades while showcasing the next generation of North Carolina’s workforce. The contest is organized by ApprenticeshipNC, the North Carolina Association of Electrical Contractors, the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, the N.C. Office of State Fire Marshal, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and industry partners. It brings together the state’s top electrical apprentices to compete head-to-head, demonstrating their skill, knowledge, and precision.

Acknowledgements:

Tenders: Northern Nash High School, Rocky Mount

For registration or contest related questions, please contact ApprenticeshipNC Communications Assistant Margaret Spainhour at spainhourm@nccommunitycolleges.edu.