The first cohort for Del Mar College (DMC) Continuing Education’s new Entry Level Electrical Lineworker Program may be small, but the payoff for these first participants is BIG! In fact, area utility organizations are already interested in interviewing these students after they graduate from the program on April 6.But, on April 4, the four students demonstrated what they’ve learned during a “skills rodeo” at the Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) Training Field in Robstown.“We’re proud to support Del Mar College’s new Electrical Lineworker Program as it is the first of its kind in the Coastal Bend area. At NEC, our mission is to help our members improve their quality of life, and we can fully support our mission by encouraging our newest generation of aspiring electrical lineworkers to be a part of something great. We wish Del Mar much success and cannot wait to see what the future brings." - Varzavand Irani, Nueces Electric Cooperative Chief Executive OfficerThe first four students to participate with the intensive 10-week program, which started in January, include Andrew “Blake” Galvan, Gabriel Garcia, Rodolfo “Rudy” Landeros and Christopher Luzania. Among their past work experiences, these students held jobs in service, general maintenance and education positions before tackling training for a different line of work as entry level electrical lineworkers.During the rodeo, the cohort demonstrated skills that included pole top rescue, personal protective grounding and insulator or cross arm changes. Their performances of these skills determine their final grades for the program. Students have taken progressive coursework that covers basic electricity, basic pole climb, employability skills, electrical safety and tools, digger derrick and pole framing, safety regulations, live line safety, transformers and distribution operations.“Del Mar College is honored to participate with NEC and all the regional electrical transmission companies in preparing electrical lineworkers for the workforce,” added DMC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lenora Keas. “The College’s new training program provides the opportunity for individuals to develop skills for gainful employment or to advance their careers in the electrical transmission field, and the skills rodeo was an exciting opportunity for us to showcase the advanced skills needed to become and compete as a lineworker.”As an industry partner needing more electrical lineworkers for their workforce, NEC has provided the College use of their Training Field for students’ hands-on experiences and opportunity to put into practice what they’ve learned in the classroom.