July 22, 2024

Graduates of the 64th class of Forsyth Tech’s lineworker program benefited from new equipment and training aids made possible by a $35,000 Duke Energy grant. Of that, $25,000 was allocated for recruitment and scholarships for underrepresented populations. The remaining $10,000 has been allocated for new equipment, repairs and program needs, such as replacement pole-top rescue dummies.

“This grant has greatly benefited our program by enabling us to actively recruit underrepresented students and remove barriers to their attendance,” said Amanda Sattler, director of public safety technologies at Forsyth Tech. “We will continue to find effective ways to train and prepare our graduates for careers as lineworkers.”

Forsyth Tech began the program in 2010, initially requiring 240 hours of learning instruction and training. The program has since expanded to 360 hours and has graduated 1,128 lineworkers. It now requires 11 weeks of instruction and is designed to train students to become entry-level electrical lineworkers for private and public utility companies.

Job placement is competitive. According to coordinator Tim Webb, “The total number of job placements before COVID-19 was running around 89 percent. Now I estimate it at 80 percent due to contract availability.” He said that for students willing to relocate out of state or stay in motels during the week, “the hiring percentage could be at 100 percent.”

Industry partners have expressed a desire for more female and minority applicants, a sentiment Sattler strongly agrees with and will continue to address in recruitment. Haylee Glasgow, a 2022 graduate and current employee of Duke Energy in Greensboro, said that despite being one of few women in her profession, she finds the work “rewarding and challenging” and would recommend that other women strongly consider the career field.

Graduates of the most recent class were looking forward to starting work as soon as the week following graduation. Those still seeking employment were sharing their resumes with recruiters from Duke Energy, Pike Electric and North Carolina electric cooperatives.

Graduates Justin Frazier and Bradley Cash were both excited to be starting their new roles with Pike Electric. Frazier, nicknamed “Cow Killer” by his trainers due to the large size of his boots, said that although he felt he was still “green,” he would be learning a lot in his new job. His mother had baked cookies for everyone there, and the feeling of camaraderie was evident among the graduates. Cash, one of the recipients of the Duke Energy scholarship, said that the group was “almost like brothers now … we all encourage each other.”

For more information about the program, visit forsythtech.edu/electrical-lineworker/, or contact Amanda Sattler at 336-757-3066 or asattler@forsythtech.edu.