South Georgia Technical College Electrical Lineworker students Marcus Shipp of Sylvester and Zykieal Johnson of Louisville, GA, were awarded Georgia Power Electrical Lineworker Scholarships recently by the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. The scholarships were awarded based on work ethics, academics, and overall class performance.
Georgia Power Region External Affairs Manager Don Porter joined South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and other South Georgia Technical College officials to present Marcus Shipp and Zykieal Johnson with their SGTC Foundation scholarship certificates. The Georgia Power Electrical Lineworker scholarships were awarded thanks to a donation from Georgia Power to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation earlier this year for student scholarships in the college’s Electrical Lineworker program.
“We would like to thank Georgia Power for supporting our students, our college and our 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 helping students, communities, and our state ‘move forward’ with these scholarship opportunities. We appreciate what Georgia Power has done in the past and continues to do for the college, the faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students.”
Both Shipp and Johnson thanked South Georgia Technical College for offering the Electrical Lineworker program and Georgia Power for initiating the scholarship. Shipp, who is a non-traditional student, applied for the Electrical Lineworker scholarship because he was not eligible to receive other forms of financial aid.
“This scholarship is allowing me to achieve my long term goals of furthering my education and working towards a career as an electrical lineworker,” said Shipp. “The skills that I am learning in this program will allow me one day to give back to my community by serving as an electrical lineworker. This is dangerous but fulfilling work because when the power is out or there are damaging storms everyone is turning to the lineworkers to restore power. This program and scholarship is helping me to realize my career goals.”
Zykieal Johnson explained that he loved working outdoors and doesn’t mind hard work. He is the oldest of five children and the first in his family to attend college. He is also a single father. “My goal is to become a certified Journeyman lineman. I have been in the work force since I was 16 years old. I am dependable and have a great work record. I am so grateful to South Georgia Technical College and to Georgia Power for this opportunity. The training that I am getting here at South Georgia Technical College is very informative, rewarding and exciting. This scholarship opportunity is helping make my goals become reality.”
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.