A Lakeland College apprentice is among the best in Alberta.

Parts technician Alicia Harris-Kopeck, Class of 2018, was honoured with a 2018 Top Apprentice Award at the 22nd annual Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Awards of Excellence on Sept. 13. She attended with apprentices from across the province who were recognized for their skill and dedication to their trade.

“I was surprised when I found out I received a Top Apprentice Award. This award puts the work I do into perspective: my work ethic was recognized and I'm doing something right,” says Harris-Kopeck.

The award is presented to apprentices who achieve the highest overall marks in their final period of training and who receive strong employer recommendations. Harris-Kopeck is a parts technician at Silverwood Toyota Lloydminster and has been a member of their team for four years. Harris-Kopeck says she's thankful for the support from her husband and two children, as well as Toyota and her manager, Carman Gartner, who joined her at the awards ceremony.

“It means a great deal to me to know that my employer's recommendation helped me achieve this award. I've learned a great deal from my manager, as well as my instructors at Lakeland. I can't thank my teachers enough for my education and my manager for training me all these years,” Harris-Kopeck says.

Harris-Kopeck's passion for vehicles is rooted in her childhood. She joined her dad around the race track, and then tinkered in auto shops and owns her own racecar. She says it felt natural to pursue a career in the auto industry. Harris-Kopeck enrolled in Lakeland's parts technician apprenticeship program, which furthered her parts knowledge and skills related to auto body, brakes, electrical, hydraulics, steering, suspension, power train and engines.

“My family is very supportive of me as I pursued this as a career. I loved attending Lakeland. It meant I was able to still raise my family, while getting a quality education,” she says.

Mark Okrainetz, an instructor with Lakeland's School of Trades and Technology, adds, “she was an exceptional student in a competitive class. Alicia was among other students just as proficient as her. I think that pushed her to stay competitive.”

Eleven Lakeland parts technician students have won the top apprentice award for their trade. Okrainetz credits this success to intimate class sizes, accessible instructors and the exceptional instructional facilities at the college's Vermilion campus.

Photos: Feature-Alicia Harris-Kopeck holds her 2018 Top Apprentice Award at Silverwood Toyota Lloydminster. Above-Harris-Kopeck with her manager, Carmen Gartner, at the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Awards of Excellence.