Annual Colorado Apprenticeship Awards Celebrate Outstanding Apprentices and Mentors During National Apprenticeship Month
April 27, 2026 – Denver, CO — Last week, employers and apprentices from across the State of Colorado gathered to celebrate National Apprenticeship Month with Apprenticeship Colorado and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) at the Apprenticeship Awards ceremony.
At the ceremony, Encore Electric apprentice Dylan Palmer Merritt was recognized by Apprenticeship Colorado and the CDLE with an Outstanding Apprentice Award for his dedication to apprenticeship and positive impact to the Encore Electric team.
Dylan Palmer Merritt grew up in Colorado Springs and graduated from Widefield High School. From his freshman year through graduation, Palmer Merritt was involved in The Mill, a four‑year trades program through Careers in Construction Colorado. The Mill gave him not only real-world construction experience, but consistent mentorship, structure, and a sense of direction at a time when he needed it most.
At 16, Palmer Merritt and his siblings moved out of their family home due to circumstances beyond their control. With limited support, he worked in landscaping throughout high school, taking care of his siblings, paying his own bills, and planning for a future he knew he would have to build himself.
When he moved out, it was clear to Palmer Merritt that it was up to him to build a career and take his future into his own hands. Through The Mill, he was connected with mentors who taught him both trade skills and essential life skills and introduced him to trade professionals who recognized his talent and drive.
Throughout all four years of high school and early trades education, Palmer Merritt gravitated towards the electrical trade. After graduation, he started his apprenticeship with Encore Electric where he has become a valuable member of the Southern Colorado team.
Now approaching the end of his apprenticeship, Palmer Merritt has excelled in both the classroom and the field. He maintains strong grades and is already preparing to take the Journeyman Exam. Palmer Merritt shows up every day committed to doing his best work because he believes in the importance of building schools, hospitals, and the future of his community.
“My time and commitment are valuable,” Palmer Merritt says. “I want to build something cool and build something well because I know it’s going to have an impact on my community down the line.”
Encore Electric Foreman Ken Stott describes Palmer Merritt as “a valuable player for our Southern Colorado team,” adding, “I will always ask for Dylan to be a part of the team that I assemble to work with.”
What makes Palmer Merritt exceptional goes beyond skill: it’s his leadership. He mentors new apprentices on the job, supports his crews with positivity and professionalism, and naturally steps into a role that motivates others. His background in sports shaped his belief in team accountability, goal setting, and pushing others to succeed. Those strengths now shine on every jobsite he steps onto.
He understands that when teammates feel connected, the entire jobsite benefits. The effort he puts into organizing team‑bonding activities outside of work including group hikes, runs, gym sessions, and camping trips strengthens relationships and builds community. His influence has helped shape work environments where other apprentices feel supported, included, and motivated.
Outside of his project teams, Palmer Merritt serves as an ambassador for the electrical trade and the apprenticeship pathway. Palmer Merritt regularly travels with the Encore Electric Recruiting and Industry Advocacy teams to career fairs and high schools, where he shares his story to help students with all backgrounds understand that the trades offer a fulfilling, stable, hands‑on future.
Dylan Palmer Merritt’s message to students at these events stems from his own experience growing up: “Everyone has different backgrounds and lifestyles. If you don’t know what you want to do and you’re hands-on and want something you can do forever, this is a really great opportunity. You get to build cool things with cool people and shape the future.”
National Apprenticeship Month is a time to spotlight the power of learning by doing, and the people and programs that make apprenticeship so valuable. Apprenticeships play a vital role in today’s workforce, combining hands‑on experience with structured learning to train future generations of professionals across industries.
Dylan Palmer Merritt exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding apprentice. His resilience, work ethic, leadership, and commitment to giving back to both Encore Electric and the future workforce of Colorado have all earned him the Outstanding Apprentice Award. From overcoming personal challenges to becoming a leader on and off the jobsite, his story is one of perseverance, impact, and dedication to the craft—and he is one of many Encore Electric apprentices representing the very best of the Colorado trades community during National Apprenticeship Month.