Skip to main content

SLCC Lineworker Graduates Shine at Skills Competition—Rocky Mountain Power Foundation Empowers Future Generations

 



Nearly two dozen graduates from Salt Lake Community College’s (SLCC) Lineworker Pre-Apprentice Program put their skills to the test today in an exhilarating rodeo and skills competition at the Miller Campus in Sandy. The event drew a crowd of family, friends, and industry leaders, including local utility companies on the lookout for promising new talent.  

In a major boost to the program, the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation presented a generous $15,000 gift, aimed at supporting tuition assistance and funding two new rescue manikins for vital hands-on training.  

“We are thrilled to receive this generous gift from Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, which helps us train the next generation of lineworkers while ensuring the highest safety standards," said Rhett Bigelow, program manager of SLCC’s Energy, Utility & Licensing Programs. “Rescue training is essential in this field, and this donation allows us to continue offering life-saving instruction at an affordable cost."

“Through the foundation, we are dedicated to supporting programs that empower the next generation and set them up for success,” said Dick Garlish, director of the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation and President of Rocky Mountain Power. “Local industries are in need of skilled workers, and this partnership is an excellent way to provide these opportunities to the communities.”

Challenges and Triumphs in the Field

The morning’s competitions featured three rigorous events that tested both skill and endurance:

  • Egg Race Speed Climb – Lineworkers raced up poles while balancing an egg, testing their precision and control.
  • Hurt-Man Rescue – A simulated emergency scenario where competitors quickly and safely retrieved an injured coworker from a utility pole. 
  • Mystery Scenario – A real-world challenge requiring quick thinking and technical expertise. 

One of the competitors and new graduates, Mitchell Anderson, said the appeal of working outside and as a team drew him to this line of work. “I’ve always worked outside, and would hate an office job,” said Anderson, a former Marine. “There is a lot of camaraderie as a lineworker; it’s not unlike the Marines, where you spend every day all day together, all going through the same thing and you get along.” Anderson already has a job lined up with Morgan City, reinforcing the program’s strong 80% placement rate.  



The Draw? Making A Living Wage While Working Outside

SLCC’s Lineworker Pre-Apprentice Program is part of Salt Lake Tech, a school within the Community College. The program qualifies students to be hired by Utah utility companies. Then, they spend four years training as an apprentice, earning a living, before becoming full-fledged journeymen. 

"This profession attracts people who want to work outdoors while making a solid living wage,” said Bigelow, noting that first-year apprentices can earn up to $100,000. With an increasing number of retirements in the field, programs like SLCC’s are essential for filling workforce needs.  

For more information about SLCC’s Lineworker Pre-Apprentice Program, visit its website.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency.  “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment.  Andrew’s work has alwa...
Post a Comment
Read more

SLCC All Access

Did you know you can access SLCC lab software for free from your own computing device?   Come learn how SLCC is supporting BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) with All Access. The goal of All Access is to provide any time, any place, and any device access to college computing and lab software SLCC students, faculty and staff.  All Access works on almost any device from a PC or Mac, to tablets and smart phones.  With All Access you can use programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, AutoCAD, MatLab, Mathematica, MyITLab, NetBeans, and online Library Databases.  We also provide you with online storage space so you can save your files in the cloud and have access to them wherever you are.  Anyone is welcome to this session where we will cover the basics of All Access, give you some tips and tricks for getting the most out the system, and we’ll also have some people there to help get your computer set up.  When and where: ...
1 comment
Read more