WECA congratulates Chris Boles, our Northern California Class of 2025 Electrician Trainee Valedictorian, on his achievement!
As an Electrician Trainee, Chris appreciated that WECA’s Electrician Trainee Program was easy to manage alongside a full-time job with his employer, Precision Electric, saying he never felt overwhelmed with balancing work and school.
“Working for Precision Electric while doing WECA helped me put two and two together,” said Chris. “Being able to learn about electrical and use that knowledge in field applications helped my progression into the trade. I started this trade with no experience and to be able to use the knowledge in the field right away as I was progressing with WECA also progressed me further into the company and built my confidence in the field.”
We asked Chris what advice he has for students still in the program, and his advice included “Use the platform to its fullest potential. If you take the time to study and look over everything they provide, you'll succeed in the program and realize how much easier the material will become to you. Ask questions! If you don't understand a subject or the material being under review, don't be afraid to ask the instructor for clarification. Sometimes that might mean staying after hours for a few minutes, but they will answer your questions. They are there for you to succeed. Lastly, work with your peers, you are all there for the same goal and you can all help each other succeed.
Last, but not least, Chris credited his success to his girlfriend, Cassie, his WECA instructors, and the entire WECA support team. “Cassie had the patience for me to do my schoolwork and would continually support me in finishing it. I would also like to shout out all of WECA. The team at WECA is great. They are always responsive to any concerns or problems via phone call or email. The in-person lab classes were also great; it helped put a face to some of the classmates and instructors. Lastly, the instructors at WECA are amazing, I didn't get a chance to meet all of them, but they all treated me with the same level of professionalism. The instructors always put in the extra effort that helped me succeed in the program.” Chris adds that he also benefitted from having a coworker that went through WECA, and that “he helped push me into starting the program and also kept up on progress to see how I was doing.”
After graduation, Chris is determined to keep pushing the limits of his skill and knowledge. “There is so much growth in electrical that I want to keep pushing the limits and my success. But most of all, I’m planning on getting a nice big yard for my best boy Hazy, who is a 16-month-old Golden Retriever.”
Congratulations, Chris, on your success and Electrician Trainee Program Valedictorian achievement! Thank you for sharing your tips for success with fellow and future students. WECA wishes you a long and successful electrical career and for a big backyard for Hazy!