Eight South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Electrical Lineworker students were selected to receive the South Georgia Technical College Foundation’s Southeastern Electric Exchange’s (S.E.E.) Electrical Lineworker Scholarships.
The $1,000 scholarships were awarded to: Christopher Allen Gagliano of Covington, Michael Haas of Leesburg, Dereck Smith of Macon, Nathan Scheller of Nashville, Benjamin Luke Miller of Wadley, Carter Howard of Jeffersonville, Jhobany Perez of Lyons, and Dean Reamsnyder of Gray.
S.E.E. has been supporting the electric utility industry since 1933. S.E.E.’s Line Worker Grant Program is a continuation of this support. S.E.E. is a non-profit, non-political trade association of investor-owned electric utility companies. Its mission is to promote the common interests and growth of its members, develop and enhance the human, operational and technical resources of member companies to the fullest, as well as provide coordination of storm restoration services to impacted member companies.
Each of the eight students awarded the scholarships are currently enrolled in the SGTC Fall eight-week Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Certificate Training program and expressed their appreciation to Southeastern Electric Exchange for the support of their educational endeavors.
Dereck Smith of Macon enrolled in the SGTC Electrical Lineworker program because he wanted “to build a stable career doing meaningful, hands-on work that helps keep communities powered. For a period of time growing up, my mother was a single parent. As the oldest of seven children, I watched her put her dreams on hold to do her best to provide for me and my siblings. We didn’t always have the best things but we made do with what we had. I didn’t have the opportunity to attend a large college, so I began working right after high school to help support my family. Receiving this scholarship is allowing me to focus on completing the program and building a better future.”
Michael Haas of Leesburg has the same passion “for hands-on work and choosing a career that makes a real difference in people’s lives. Electricity is something everyone depends on every day and linemen play an important role in keeping power on and restoring it when outages happen.”
He added that he is interested “in learning the skills needed to safely build and maintain power lines while working as a team. Becoming a lineman will allow me to build a stable career, work hard, and help my community when they need it most. Thank you for this scholarship.”
Each one of the scholarship recipients shared that this scholarship is helping shape their future for the better. “I am excited about my new journey and the beginning of my future career,” said Dean Reamsnyder. “I quit my current job and left home to come to Americus and complete my schooling. This scholarship helped make that possible. Thank you so much!”
Benjamin Luke Miller also had to quit his current job to enroll in school. “I felt like this was an opportunity to change my career path for a more rewarding experience as an electrical line worker. And the scholarship helped make this possible.”
Carter Howard came to school to help his family. He recently obtained his GED and is ready to start a career so that he can care for his family. He has a “beautiful baby boy who is turning three months old” and he wants to comfortably provide for him. It is a two-hour commute one way from his current residence so living on campus was a blessing. He was also working a low-income job just to make ends meet and keep his bills paid, but with this training he believes he can enter a career and successfully support his family.
Jhobany Perez is the first in his family to attend college. “Coming from a low-income household makes it difficult to pursue higher education. But this scholarship I helping me with my next steps to achieving my goal in becoming a lineman. I am so grateful for this help.”
Christopher Allen Gagliano and Nathan Schleer both shared how this scholarship helped ease the financial burden of attending college and allowed them to focus on pursing a career as a lineworker. The training they are receiving will hopefully allow them to give back to others in the future.
Each student touched on giving back to their communities and the importance of this work. They all have slightly different goals, but they are hoping through this vocation, they can make a positive impact on society.
South Georgia Technical College was the first technical college in Georgia to offer the Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Course. It was created in 2005 in response to industry demands. The industry needed to replace its retiring workforce. This is the 20th anniversary of the program.
Admission requirements for program entrance include: at least 18 years of age, must have obtained a high school diploma or equivalency, and must obtain a Class A CDL Instructional permit before enrollment.
The SGTC Electrical Lineworker program is a 12-semester hour, eight-week class that meets Monday through Thursday. Students receive training on the proper use of lineworker tools, lineworker simulation, power industrial truck operation, and electrical safety. The skills field training includes learning to climb poles safely, working on electrical connections at high altitudes, and the operation of power trucks and trailers and other equipment. During the observation-based training, students are able to observe 30 hours of lineworker’s performing their job duties with partnering power companies. Students are guaranteed a job interview with utility companies upon successful completion of the program.
Approximately two-thirds of the program is devoted to strenuous hands-on skills allowing students to develop a high degree of proficiency in the electrical lineworking equipment and procedures. All SGTC Electrical Lineworker students have the opportunity to earn a CDL Class A or B license as part of the program. To be employed as an electrical lineworker, students must be able to drive the specialized utility trucks and trailers carrying electrical poles.
SGTC has a 99% job placement rate and over 1000 students have graduated from this eight-week program. The median annual wage for electricians, line installers and repairers is between $50,000 and $60,000 per year with the potential to reach six figures within two years with overtime and storm duty.
South Georgia Technical is one of only two technical colleges in Georgia with on-campus housing. Lineworker students can live on-campus in double-occupancy rooms for $1550 each for the eight-week class. That price includes 19 meals per week and access to free WIFI. The tuition cost for the 12-hour program is currently $1675. Georgia residents are eligible for the HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant, which covers most of the tuition costs and fees.
The college offers over 200 associate degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit classes. The college has a 99% job placement rate for graduates and offers lifetime career placement services. Financial aid is available for qualified students. For more information about applying to South Georgia Technical College, visit www.southgatech.edu or contact the admissions office at 229-931-2394 in Americus or 229-271-4040 in Cordele.
For more information about the Electrical Lineworker program at South Georgia Technical College or to apply for the next class, contact Tami Blount at 229-931-2040 or tblount@southgatech.edu. For more information about how to support student scholarships through the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, contact Executive Director Su Ann Bird at 229-931-2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu.