Illinois High School Students Are Powering the Future of the Electrical Industry

Dundee-Crown High School (D-CHS) in Carpentersville, Illinois held its annual IDEAL Tools National Challenge on Friday, April 25, 2025, with 28 of the school’s electrical program students participating. By enrolling in the Electrical 3 course at D-CHS, the 28 students were given the opportunity to compete in a timed electrical wiring challenge, facing off with the same materials and conditions as experienced professionals. But these young competitors weren’t just chasing prizes—they were wiring a brighter future for themselves and for the electrical industry.

Programs like these are helping the next generation see the trades not as a fallback option, but as a first choice—and the National IDEAL Tools Challenge is where many of those sparks catch fire.

“I think I did good. I don’t regret anything—it was great to put everything I’ve learned over the past few years to the test,” said Tyson Keas, a senior who completed his third year participating in the IDEAL Challenge. “It's basically using a board, learning the IDEAL meters to try and figure out what outlets go to what breakers and there's purposely mis-wired outlets in there that you have to figure out too. I’ve been taking electricity for four years now, so I feel like the classes I took definitely prepared me for it and made it a lot easier.”

The Northeastern Illinois Chapter, NECA has supported this Challenge for years. This year, NECA provided gift card prizes for the top three finishers. NECA gear was awarded to the fourth, fifth and sixth place finishers and earbud headphones to all student participants.

“The Northeastern Illinois Chapter, NECA, is honored to be affiliated with the Dundee-Crown HS Electrical Program and be part of the annual IDEAL Tools Challenge last month. Instructor Nick Linden makes an incredible impact on the lives of future electricians through the program he built over the years,” Chapter Executive Director Giuseppe Muzzupappa praised. “Our NECA Chapter appreciates the partnership we have with Dundee-Crown HS and Nick Linden’s program.”

Keas originally planned to become a mechanic, but everything changed when he picked up a pair of wire strippers. “Something just clicked in my mind about last year. I really enjoyed taking this electricity class,” he said. “Still having a hands-on job and really enjoying that—I feel like electricity would be a lot better for me.”

Tyson’s not alone. Classmate Christopher Ronquillo was on a college track until career and technical education (CTE) courses opened his eyes to a new path. “My main goal was to go to college for software engineering but after I started taking more interest in the CTE classes, I realized how good I could be when taught the material,” he said. “And I just thought ‘This is something I want to pursue for my future.’”

Both students credit their CTE programs with building a solid foundation. “Most of the materials and tools we used in the competition, we had already learned in class,” said Ronquillo. “So yeah, I definitely felt prepared.”

That sense of readiness is no accident. At Dundee-Crown High School, Electrical Instructor and Master Electrician Nick Linden has built a powerhouse of a program. When he took over, the shop was neglected and underutilized. Today, enrollment has exploded.

“We're still surpassing 400 enrollments,” said Linden. “I think many students are recognizing that college no longer offers the return on investment it used to. They also realize college is four years of expense and four years of lost income.”

Linden’s focus is on real-world skills. “I keep the class very kinesthetically focused. This isn’t an engineering or theory-heavy class—it’s electric shop. We cover everything from academically driven students to kinesthetic learners.”

With growing national support for CTE programs, hands-on training opportunities like these are helping more students choose rewarding careers in the trades. “We’re told that there’s a need for trades and especially electricians because that’s a job that will never go away,” according to Keas. He says the trades are gaining quick popularity amongst the next generation of workers. “I feel like the pay and the need for skilled workers are the reasons behind the growing popularity. I am seeing less kids that want to go to college now and more looking into trades.”

While Ronquillo still has many friends who are applying to college, he feels the possibility of a trade career is being promoted more. “I think that trades are something that have been put out there more and more. I mean, I'm grateful for it because I was exposed to it here in school and I think it should be more common.”

The IDEAL Challenge plays a critical role in inspiring students and giving them a glimpse of the professional world. “This competition gives students something beyond the high school realm,” Linden added. “There’s prestige to it—and they want to be part of that. They see it as a bridge into the professional world.” Both Keas and Ronquillo plan to join their local NECA-IBEW apprenticeships after high school graduation.

As the industry continues to evolve, one thing is clear: These students are not only competing—they’re preparing to lead. They’re skilled. They’re focused. And they’re more than ready. For more information about the D-CHS electrical program please visit their website.

Based on their final competition times, the following six students were awarded items from IDEAL Electrical, as well as the National Electrical Contractors Association:

1. Junior Tristan Bell (first place)
2. Senior Christopher Ronquillo (second place)
3. Senior Michael Kochanicek (third place)
4. Senior Erick Martinez (fourth place)
5. Senior Mitchell Ellsworth (fifth place)
6. Senior Gavin Lewis (sixth place)