October 2023

The Power Line Worker Training School storage facility / inside lab area is complete. Many thanks to the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission for providing grant funding and to our many supporters for assisting with match requirements.  Exciting progress is being made as we continue to expand and develop the program.  

This is so true when it comes to SVCC's Power Line Worker Training School.  Recently, a team from Southside Electric Cooperative (Lisa Everington, Sheena Lankford, Scott Diggs, Daniel Corrigan and Jason Loehr) held mock interviews with our students to assist as they prepare to enter the workforce.  

FaFa Baker (left) and Patricia Hatcher (right) from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative visited with the members of cohort #23 and had the opportunity to meet and congratulate Christian Tingen of Ruther Glen, Virginia, the recipient of the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative Power Line Worker Scholarship.  

Austin Vaughn of Warsaw, Virginia, is the recipient of the Randall J. Thompson Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Northern Neck Electric Cooperative. Mr. Thompson, a long time lineman for NNEC, was known as a teacher amongst the lineman and for helping others in need.  

Logan McQuiggan (left) of Disputanta, Virginia, and Shawn Garceau of Scottsville, Virginia are the recipients of the Todd Brandon Schinabeck Memorial Scholarship. Todd was a proud graduate of the PLW program. His family established the scholarship to help others enter the profession he loved so much.  

Participants pose for a "bucket truck" picture!

SVCC grad Steadman Green takes a moment to talk with a reporter covering the event.  

Students from Millbrook, James Wood, Sherando and Handley high schools participated in Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) inaugural "A Day in the Life of a Line Worker" program on October 19th in Winchester. 

Preston Knight, communications officer for SVEC was pleased with the turn out of 40 students!  

On hand to participate and meet future power line workers was Matt Dunn, Southside Virginia Community College's (SVCC) Workforce Development Counselor. In addition to meeting students, Matt was proud of SVCC's Power Line Worker Training School graduate Steadman Green who works for SVEC. Steadman was a member of cohort #4 and was able to share some of his education and work insights with the students.  

The program provided participants with the opportunity to see first hand what is involved in choosing this career path.

Kudos to SVEC for a great event!

Graduation is just around the corner (November 16th) , but there is still time to visit SVCC's Power Line Worker Training School and meet with our students and recruit great employees.

Don't miss out on hiring from a group that has interesting nicknames such as BJ (Bull Jr.), Floppy, Happy Mean, Power Ranger and Romeo. Or interesting hobbies and interests such as being a model train enthusiast, owning and competing American Fox Beagles, working 3 jobs, playing 3 instruments or enjoying working on classic cars! 

Contact Randy Crocker at [email protected] or 434-949-1093 to schedule a visit.

Standard Distribution Auger Truck

Cohort # 23 graduation - Thursday, November 16

Cohort #24 matriculates - Monday, February 5, 2024

Cohort #24 graduation - Thursday, April 18, 2024