NECA and ELECTRI International are pleased to recognize Illinois TECH as the 2025 NECA Student Chapter of the Year. This Chapter was selected for its outstanding efforts to involve students in many programs and projects that help them prepare for and make decisions about future careers in the EC industry. Throughout the year, 57 members of the NECA Student Chapter took every opportunity for volunteering, hosting and conducting structured events, and the expanding the new Lighting and Cyber Security Center, an extension of Smart Tech.

Illinois Tech Chapter’s advisor, Dr Dan Tomal, recently noted “We appreciate the generosity of the electrical contracting industry. NECA Chapter members from ECA here in Chicago and other partners in the profession are so generous with their time and mentoring. They truly want to see the next generation of EC professionals succeed and the NECA Student Chapter program gives us a running start.”

At the recent 2025 NECA Convention in Chicago, Dr. Tomal accepted the 2025 award on behalf of the TECH chapter along with four students from the College of Engineering: Andrew Partyka (Industrial Technology and Management), Christyn Reyes (Industrial Technology and Management), Jose Alonzo (Electrical Engineering), and Aaron Jimenez (Electrical Engineering).

Chapter member Andrew Partyka shared his enthusiasm for their NECA Student Chapter: “We get to experience and consider many different points of view. We learn how to collaborate to make a project or a program a real success. I have discovered many potential opportunities as a result of being a chapter member, especially in the electrical engineering specialty. Exposure to NECA helps me make informed decisions and that’s a major benefit I get as a member of the Illinois TECH Student Chapter.