Three South Georgia Technical College Electrical Lineworker graduates, who are now employed by Georgia Power, volunteered to come back and give back to the over 60 high school students who participated in the SGTC High School Summer Bridge Jet Set Tech Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp recently.
Ryan Brown, a 2006 graduate of the Electrical Lineworker Program, along with Justin Barnes, a 2016 graduate, and Slade Dominick, a 2020 graduate, accompanied Don Porter of Georgia Power to talk with and provide demonstrations to the high school students from 10 different counties. This was part of the Career Exploration portion of the STEM camp, designed to help students learn more about the career opportunities available in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
Georgia Power’s Dominick Slade is shown above talking with the STEM campers and providing demonstrations with the Georgia Power Lineworker truck.
“Enrolling in the Electrical Lineworker Program at South Georgia Technical College,” was one of the best decisions I made,” said Georgia Power’s Justin Barnes. His mother, Tonya Barrett, of Chattahoochee Flint RESA, was one of the main forces who help plan and put on the camp in partnership with South Georgia Tech.
“Those eight weeks led to the career of a lifetime,” added Barnes. Ryan Brown agreed with Barnes and the two of them thanked South Georgia Technical College for providing the opportunity for them to learn and receive the skills needed to earn a living helping restore power to those in need.
Barnes and Brown joined Don Porter in manning the booth for Georgia Power at the Career Fair for the high school campers, while Slade Dominick demonstrated how the Georgia Power Lineworker trucks work and what linemen do in their daily jobs.
SGTC’s Partnership Coordinator Tami Blount and SGTC Economic Development Director Paul Farr were also on-hand at the Career Fair to talk with students about the eight-week Electrical Lineworker program. In addition to Georgia Power and the Electrical Lineworker group, SGTC Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor Janice Wiseman talked with students about medical field options, individuals discussed careers in Education, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Welding, Electronics, Criminal Justice, Horticulture, Heavy Equipment Diesel Technology, and more.
Shown above are the individuals that participated in the SGTC STEM Camp mini career fair recently.
South Georgia Technical College offers over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit educational programs. Many of them are related to STEM careers. The purpose of the SGTC STEM Camp and Career Fair was to education and excite high school students about the opportunities available in these fields and to provide students with the opportunity to have a taste of the “Complete College Experience.”
South Georgia Tech is currently accepting application for Fall Semester. Classes begin August 15. Registration is planned for July 23 and August 13. To apply visit www.southgatech.edu and click on the Apply button at the top of the page.