Robert Grant Willoughby receives Georgia Power Electrical Lineworker scholarship at South Georgia Technical College

March 12, 2020
Shown above (l to r) are South Georgia Technical College Electrical Lineworker Instructor Dewey Turner, SGTC Economic Development Assistant Tami Blount who works with the SGTC Electrical Lineworker program, Georgia Power Electrical Lineworker Scholarship recipient Robert Willoughby, and Lineworker Instructor Sidney Johnson.
Shown above (l to r) are South Georgia Technical College Electrical Lineworker Instructor Dewey Turner, SGTC Economic Development Assistant Tami Blount who works with the SGTC Electrical Lineworker program, Georgia Power Electrical Lineworker Scholarship recipient Robert Willoughby, and Lineworker Instructor Sidney Johnson.

      South Georgia Technical College Electrical Lineworker student Robert Grant Willoughby of Villa Rica, GA, was awarded the Georgia Power Electrical Lineworker Scholarship recently. The scholarship was awarded based on his work ethics, academics, and overall class performance.  

Georgia Power Executive Vice President of Customer Service and Operations Pedro Cherry presented South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and the South Georgia Technical College Foundation with a donation for student scholarships for the college’s Electrical Lineworker program earlier this year.

    “We would like to thank Georgia Power Company for this donation to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford.  “This is a valuable partnership.  Georgia Power’s support of our students, the foundation and college is very important.  Georgia Power is “impacting student success” with these scholarship opportunities.  We appreciate what you have done in the past and continue to do for the college, the faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students.”

   Willoughby also thanked South Georgia Technical College for offering the program and Georgia Power for initiating the scholarship.   “I would like to thank Georgia Power for providing this scholarship opportunity,” said Willoughby.  “Throughout the duration of this program I have applied myself to the best of my ability in the classroom and on the skills field and I am honored to be given this opportunity. The Electrical Lineworker Apprentice Training program is great and I appreciate South Georgia Technical College for offering this training.”

   Willoughby had one of the highest academic averages in the class and is excited about utilizing the skills that he learned from the program on the job.  He had an excellent attendance rate and did well overall on the skills field tests.

   South Georgia Technical College partnered with power companies, electric cooperatives and others to initiate the Electrical Lineworker Program in 2005.  There was a need by these companies to replace or replenish retiring workers.  Students in the Electrical Lineworker Apprentice program undergo training in the classroom, on an actual skills field with electrical poles and platforms, earn a Commercial Truck Driving Class B License and then participate in observation-based on-the-job training.

   In the classroom, students learn about the AC/DC electrical theory, field training, occupational safety, team work, line construction theory, line clearance, rigging, transformers, basic telecommunications, and utility metering.  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 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 Bucket and Digger trucks and trailers that carry the electrical poles.      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.