NCC Electric Line Construction Academy Students: Lining Up a Successful Future
Standing out from the crowd is the key to success people say. What if you are 40 feet above the crowd? That is just where Electric Line Construction Academy graduates aim to find themselves after completion of the 16 week course offered at Nash Community College. Climbing high above ground level to enact know-how of electrical engineering against a variety of atmospheric elements is not for everyone. NCC Electric Line Construction Technology Instructor, Bob Schubauer and the academy students, detail the career as one for a person with perseverance, in good physical condition, whom enjoys working outdoors and at high altitudes, has knowledge of or interest in machinery and is considered a team player. “It is an adventurous type of work and rewarding. You have the benefit of seeing results from the work you do each day,” states Trevor Evans, NCC Line Construction Academy student.
Graduates of the NCC Electric Line Construction Academy are often hired by local utility companies, such as Rocky Mount Public Utilities, Duke Energy, Dominion Power, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, ElectriCities and others. An entry level position in the field will earn an Electric Line Technician an estimated $30,000 per year with opportunities to earn more during peak times. With additional on the job training and career advancements, $100,000 per may be achievable in four to five years after graduation. Schubauer states that the 16 week Line Construction course is not only useful for those interested in the Line Technician field but in other fields, such as solar energy and electrical maintenance and contracting. “If it seems like it is hitting home, give it try. Regardless of whether or not you go into power line work, the skills you learn can be used in a number of other careers,” Schubauer encourages.
Providing guidance for its establishment 12 years ago and experienced in instruction at the College’s Electric Line Construction Academy in the years since makes Schubauer one of the many noteworthy components that sets NCC’s ELC academy apart from competing programs. Schubauer holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and has experience as an Electrical Engineer. His knowledge from the field is carried over into the classroom in teaching students not just how something works but why. “Bob is my favorite part about the program. He pushes me. I can do so much more than I thought I could do because of him,” states Tre Fromal, NCC Line Academy student. The program’s cost effectiveness is another attribute attracting students, such as student Sheldon Helfrich, “There is another program I considered for line construction in Georgia, but it is very expensive. You cannot beat the cost of tuition and what you gain in the process at Nash Community College. It is a phenomenal deal.”
Approximately 20 individuals from across North Carolina took advantage of this “deal,” graduating from the Academy on December 11, 2014. Electric Line Construction courses begin again on January 12, 2015. Those interested on lacing up their boots and climbing into to this line of work can learn more by visiting www.nashcc.edu or by contacting NCC Instructional Support Specialist, Vicki Currin at 252-451-8228. Registration is open until January 9.
