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Featured Photo: Summer Electrical Academy students learn wiring techniques in Blue Ridge Community College’s electrical lab. (Photo by: Rich Keen.)
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This summer, Blue Ridge Community College is putting electrical careers at the forefront in conjunction with the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the Siemens Foundation.
NCBCE launched 12 Summer Electrical Academies through the support of the Siemens Foundation’s $9.5 million investment into the Careers Electric™ initiative. According to the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the Careers Electric™ Training Network is designed to increase enrollment in Electrical Systems Technology programs by 20 percent at each selected school over the next three years. It “aims to bridge the critical electrical skills gap and prepare workers for North Carolina’s rapidly growing energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.”
Dr. Monica Carpenter, vice president for economic and workforce development and continuing education at Blue Ridge, said this opportunity is at the heart of community college instruction.
“The Careers Electric™ Pre-Apprenticeship reflects our commitment to creating meaningful career pathways that benefit both our students and our industry partners,” Carpenter said. “By combining hands-on training, employer engagement, and real-world experience, we’re preparing participants for long-term success in one of our region’s most in-demand careers.”
At Blue Ridge, the Summer Electrical Academy began on June 16, including area high school students and recent graduates. It allows participants to explore the electrical trade while building the professional skills needed for workplace success. Blue Ridge instructors provide hands-on instruction on foundational concepts like residential wiring, electrical systems, OSHA safety practices, AC/DC theory, and the National Electrical Code. The program also includes a focus on employability skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and professionalism. Upon successful completion, students receive $2,000, along with an Electrical Academy Certificate and industry-recognized certifications in OSHA 10, CPR and first aid, and forklift operation.
Shanda Bedoian, Blue Ridge’s director of corporate and customized training, said the academy builds career readiness while laying the foundation for more advanced electrical training through Apprenticeship Blue Ridge.
“The Summer Electrical Academy is a great first step to Electrical Apprenticeship opportunities, as well as for students to market themselves to industry employers,” she said. “They are gaining valuable, hands-on skills and industry knowledge that help prepare them for the next level.”
As he trained under academy instructor Shawn McCallister, 18-year-old participant Jaden Odom shared his goal of pursuing a career in the electrical field.
“There’s so much room to grow with an electrical career,” Odom said. “I didn’t realize how far I could go.”
Attracting young workers is vital to the continuation of the electrical workforce. According to a June 11 press release from the governor’s office, “the average age of a licensed electrician in North Carolina is in the upper 50s. Unless young people enter the trade in far greater numbers, the retirement of the current generation of skilled electricians will leave North Carolina employers, contractors, and communities without the workforce they need. The Careers Electric™ Summer Academies are a direct response to that reality.”
The 12 Summer Electrical Academies include:
- Blue Ridge Community College and Henderson County Schools
- Central Carolina Community College and Harnett County Schools
- Central Piedmont Community College and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Cleveland Community College and Cleveland County Schools
- Forsyth Technical Community College and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
- Isothermal Community College and Rutherford County Schools and Polk County Schools
- Pitt Community College and Pitt County Schools
- Rockingham Community College and Rockingham County Schools
- Surry Community College and Surry County Schools and Yadkin County Schools
- Vance-Granville Community College and Granville County Schools
- Wake Technical Community College and Wake County Public School System
- Wayne Community College and Wayne County Public Schools