Flint Energies Youth and Education Specialist Blair Brown toured the South Georgia Technical College campus with SGTC President Dr. John Watford and SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and SGTC Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird recently.
Brown also presented SGTC President Dr. John Watford with a check from the Flint Energies Foundation for the SGTC Electrical Lineworker program students. The grant is designed to help Electrical Lineworker students who are also obtaining their Commerical Truck Driving license (CDL) in addition to the Electrical Lineworker certificate during the eight-week program.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford thanked Brown for her support and for the support that Flint Energies provides to the SGTC students. “We are very thankful for our partnership with Flint Energies,” said President Watford. “This is a win-win for the students and for Flint Energies. The students gain the extra support they need for the workforce training and Flint Energies is helping to prepare the next generation of trained workers for the lineworker industry.”
Brown expressed her appreciation to Dr. Watford and Bird for the tour and for taking the time to meet with her. “I learned so much about South Georgia Technical College and the programs offered,” said Brown. “I know this will be helpful to me with I meet with high school students through the year.”
Flint Energies Vice President of Cooperative Communications Marian McLemore was instrumental in obtaining the grant funds for SGTC and she said, “We are proud to invest in the future of the electric utility industry through these scholarships for the lineworker program at South Georgia Technical College. By helping to ease the financial burden of tuition and training expenses, these scholarships will open doors for students pursuing careers as electrical lineworkers while also supporting the growing workforce needs of electric utilities across our region. We believe these students represent the next generation of skilled professionals who will help keep our communities powered and connected.”
Brown was able to tour the SGTC Electrical Lineworker classrooms and skills fields as well as also tour the campus which includes over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs. SGTC is also one of only two technical colleges in Georgia that provide on-campus housing the “complete college experience” for students with nationally ranked academics, athletics, and student activities.
South Georgia Technical College was the first college in Georgia to develop the Electrical Lineworker program and it was created in cooperation with local and statewide electrical utilities companies who needed help to fill the boots of the individuals retiring in this industry.
SGTC Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird thanked Flint Energies, the Flint Energies Foundation and Brown for the support of the South Georgia Technical College students. “This is a tremendous help to students who are interested in becoming lineworkers but may not have the financial means to attend college. We are so thankful for your support of our students.” For more information about the SGTC Foundation or to help sponsor scholarships, individuals can contact Bird at sbird@southgatech.edu or 229-931-2248.
The Flint Energies Foundation provides grants to local non-profits such as this one using money donated by Flint Energies Consumer-members through Operation Round Up®. The electric cooperative’s Members contribute $175,000 annually to the Flint Energies Foundation, which supports worthy causes in the 17 counties it serves. Operation Round Up is a way for participating Members to support multiple charitable organizations by simply allowing Flint Energies to round up their bills to the nearest dollar. Donations to Operation Round Up, which average only about $6 per year per member, are tax deductible. About 40% of Flint’s Membership participates in Operation Round Up, but that percentage continues to decline. If you are a Flint Energies Consumer-member and wish to contribute, you can sign up at www.flintenergies.com/ORU or by calling 1.800.342.3616.
The Flint Energies Foundation, a state-chartered, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, disburses all contributions to approved projects; Member contributions are not used for administration costs. Foundation Board members include Chair Joanne Hamlin, Lizella; Vice Chair Eloise Doty, Butler; Secretary Connie McCutchen, Midland; Treasurer John Luppino, Warner Robins; Gina Fink, Fort Valley; Charles Harrison, Grovania; Pat Bartness, Warner Robins; Traci Kemp, Warner Robins; Betty Chase, Oglethorpe; Roger Sinyard, Mauk; and Ian Russell, Fort Valley.
Flint Energies Blair Brown is shown above pointing to the Flint Energies banner that is hanging up in the SGTC Electrical Lineworker classroom.